Correlation and Path Analysis for Agronomic and Processing Quality Traits of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) at Holetta, Central Ethiopia

Potato is the third most important food crop in terms of consumption in the world after rice and wheat. It is a nutrient-rich vegetable with just a small amount of fat and contains 16% carbohydrates, 2% proteins, 1% minerals, and 0.6% dietary fiber. The literature on path and correlation analysis and its application as a potato breeding tool is limited in comparison to its significance for processing purpose and the knowledge it adds for upcoming breeding work. The objective of this study was to determine the relation among tuber yield and processing quality traits of potato using correlation and path coefficient analysis. This experiment was conducted at Holetta Agricultural research Centre, Ethiopia during the main crop season of 2017. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications using 24 potato genotypes. Strong positive and significant correlation were found between total tuber yield and marketable tuber yield (r=0.98) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Stronger positive correlations were found between dry matter content and starch content (r= 1) and specific gravity (r=1). Path coefficient analysis of tuber yield and its components shows that dry matter content and marketable tuber yield exerted positive highest direct influence on total tuber yield. Specific gravity of tuber had high positive direct effect on dry matter content. So, to increase the performance of these traits for tuber yield and processing quality traits path analysis can be used. As a conclusion, most of the traits had positive correlations and direct effects with total tuber yield and dry matter content at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Therefore, those traits had practical importance in selection of potato genotypes for high total tuber yield and processing purpose.