GENETIC VARIABILITY, CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND PATH ANALYSIS OF YIELD COMPONENTS IN POTATO

Abstract

Thirty one genotypes of potato were evaluated in order to find out genetic variability. character association and path analysis of tuber yield and its component characters. All the genotypes showed highly significant variation for all the characters studied. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) as well as phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed for individual tuber weight/plant (ITW). tuber weight loss percentage at 150 days after harvest due 10 respiration (TWL). tuber weight/plant (TW). tuber number/plant (TN) and plant height at 50. 70 and 90 days after planting (PH50, PH70 and PH90 OAP). Heritability estimates were found high for PH, TW, TN, ITW and TWL. TW was found to be positively and significantly associated at genotypic as well as phenotypic levels with PH (50, 70 and 90 OAP), TN, ITW and TWL and also strong positive significant association among themselves. Path coefficient analysis revealed that PH (50 and 70 OAP), number of stems/plant (NS), ITW and TWL have direct positive influence on TW.