Genetic Variability and Character Association in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Forty four genotypes were evaluated for thirteen characters. Characters such as marketable yield (kg plot⁻¹), total tuber yield (kg plot⁻¹) and number of tubers per plant had higher genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, whereas the moderate magnitude of PCV and GCV was observed for per cent emergence, fresh weight of shoots plant⁻¹ and plant height. High heritability estimates for the characters fresh weight of shoots plant⁻¹, harvest index, dry weight of tubers plant⁻¹, per cent emergence, total number of leaves plant⁻¹, fresh weight of tubers plant⁻¹, total tuber yield plot⁻¹, plant height and dry weight of shoots plant⁻¹. High genetic advance as percentage of mean was obtained for characters namely dry weight tubers plant⁻¹ and total tuber yield plot⁻¹. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for the traits viz. dry weight of tubers (g plant⁻¹) and total tuber yield plot ⁻¹. Result reveal that the genotypic coefficient of variation, high heritability and genetic advance may be exploited in further breeding programme. The tuber yield showed significant positive correlation with marketable tuber yield both at the genotypic and phenotypic levels, whereas, the tuber yield was recorded having positive and significant correlation both at phenotypic and genotypic levels with per cent plant emergence, number of tubers plant⁻¹ and fresh weight of tubers plant⁻¹. Association of component characters revealed positive and highly significant correlation of marketable tuber yield with per cent plant emergence, fresh weight of tubers plant⁻¹ and number of compound leaves plant⁻¹ at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Dry matter content of tubers plant⁻¹ exhibited positive and highly significant correlations both at phenotypic and genotypic levels with fresh weight of tubers plant⁻¹ and harvest index. Similarly number of tubers plant⁻¹ exhibited significant and positive correlation with the number of shoots plant⁻¹ at genotypic levels. Fresh weight of tubers plant⁻¹ showed positive and highly significant correlation for number of compound leaves plant⁻¹ and number of shoots plant⁻¹ (0.592) at genotypic levels. Hence, the characters namely tuber yield plant⁻¹, number of tubers plant⁻¹, fresh weight of tubers plant⁻¹, number of shoots plant⁻¹ and number of compound leaves plant⁻¹ recorded to be key traits and may be may be given prime importance while making selections for improvement of potato for Chhattisgarh Plains.