Diversity Assessment Among Seventy-Four Potato Genotypes for Selection in Breeding Program

Sustainable production of food crops relies on germplasm improvement and genetic diversity. In the present study, seventy-four potato genotypes were evaluated for diversity analysis during autumn 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 at NARC, Islamabad. Our results showed significant diversity in qualitative traits with reference to skin color of five types (Red, yellowish, brown, light yellow, light brown skin color tubers=5), three types of flesh color (Yellow, cream and white flesh color tubers=3), three sizes of tubers (Medium, small and large size tubers=3) and four shape of tuber (Oval, round, oblong, elliptic= 4 shapes) and four different eyes color (Brown, light brown, dark red and yellow eyes color=4). Potato genotype under study had very high genetic variance for quantitative attributes including weight of tuber per plant and weight number of tubers per lane, leaf area and plant height. Significant positive correlation was observed between number of tubers per plant (TPP) with number of eyes on tubers (r = 0.241) and number of tubers per lane (TPL) (r = 0.349). Plant height was found significantly positive correlated with leaf area (r= 0.456), germination percentage (r = 0.255) and weight of tubers per plant (r = 0.307). Leaf area (LA) showed positive significant correlation with number of tubers per plant (r = 0.466) and weight of tubers per plant (r = 0.263), yield and harvest index (r = 0.798, 0.755, 0.255). Weight of tubers per lane (WTL) showed positive correlation with weight of tubers per plant (r = 0.387). Regarding the interrelation between the traits and genotypes, the first two principal component axes (PC1, 24.83% and PC2, 23.46%) accounted for about 48.29% of the total variability reflecting the complexity of the variation between the plotted traits of genotypes. The present study will be useful for the precise selection for effective breeding program.