Analysis of genetic divergence in potato

Abstract

The experimental material comprised of 86 F1C2 clonal progenies of potato with four check varieties were grown in randomized block design with three replications. The present investigation was conducted under AICRP on potato, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding at Horticultural Research Farm, College of Agriculture, I.G.K.V., Raipur (C.G). The multivariate analysis by using Mahalanobis’s D2 statistics was carried out to assess the genetic diversity in the study material revealed the clustering of clonal genotypes into separate clusters. Based on the relative magnitude of D2 values, the 86 F1C2clonal progenies were grouped into seven clusters. No relationship was found between genetic divergence and geographic distribution. The highest intra cluster distance were recorded for cluster VI and inter cluster distance in between cluster I and VI. Based on the mean performance the genotypes viz., CIP 30340-8-3-2 of cluster I; CIP 304146-12-4 and CIP 398203-8-2 of cluster II; CIP 303139-9-4 and CIP 304102-11-1 of cluster III; CIP 302024-3-3 of cluster IV; CIP 398068-4-2 of cluster V; CIP 398068-7-3 and Kufri Ashoka of cluster VI; Kufri Surya and CIP 398203-2-2 of cluster VII possessing superiority for the characters. Highest per cent contribution of characters viz, tuber weight plant-1, number of shoots plant-1, number of branches plant-1, plant height, marketable tuber yield plant-1 and number of tubers plant-1 towards total divergence in potato. Hence, while formulating breeding programme, these traits be given priority to exploit the diversity in population.