GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR TUBER YIELD COMPONENTS, LATE BLIGHT RESISTANCE AND KEEPING QUALITY IN POTATOES (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.)

Abstract

Potato J (2018) 45 (2): 107-115

SK Luthra1, VK Gupta1, Mehi Lal1 and JK Tiwari2

ABSTRACT: Genetic parameters were assessed in 24 potato genotypes for 15 characters related to tuber yield, late blight

resistance and keeping quality based field trials conducted during 2015-16 and 2016-17 in winter crop season at Modipuram.

High coefficient of variation (genotypic and phenotypic) associated with high heritability and genetic advance were observed

for rottage weight loss (%), sprout weight loss (%) and sprouting (%). Tuber yield showed positive association with plant

vigour and marketable tuber yield but negative association with tuber dry matter. Thus for selecting table potatoes, high yielding with moderate tuber dry matter, and for selecting processing potatoes, moderate tuber yield with high tuber dry matter (> 20%) should be considered. The area under diseases progress curve (late blight) showed low but significant correlation with detached leaf lesion area (cm2). Keeping quality was dependent on appearance of tubers after storage as it was negatively associated with sprouting (%), sprout weight loos (%) and physiological weight loss (%). Twenty four genotypes could be grouped into six clusters. The grouping of genotypes in clusters indicated that morphological diversity is not related to geographical diversity. Maximum contributions to genetic divergence were of sprouting (%) and sprout weight loss (%) followed by total tubers, tuber dry matter and marketable tuber yield. Though the maximum inter-cluster distances was observed between cluster III and VI, however desirable traits for improvements were available in cluster II and Cluster II. These result would be helpful in selection of superior parents aiming to generate diverse segregatingpopulation for effective selection in potato breeding programme.