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This article, published in the journal "Environment & Ecology," presents a study on the genetic variability and nutrient content of different genotypes of the amaranthus plant. The research found a wide range of major nutrients in both leaves and grains of the amaranthus genotypes, with high heritability observed for all traits. The study suggests that amaranthus has the potential to be a valuable source of nutrition due to its genetic variability and nutrient content. The document provides detailed data on the quality parameters of different amaranthus genotypes, including information on leaf fiber, iron, moisture, oxalates, vitamin C, stem fiber, and color. The authors highlight the nutritional potential of amaranthus as a source of essential nutrients in the human diet and reference other studies that support these findings. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses a study conducted in India that examined the correlation and genetic variability of different traits in three crosses of okra plants. The researchers found that certain traits, such as the number of fruits per plant and fruit weight, were highly correlated with fruit yield. They also observed high heritability and genetic advance in two of the crosses, indicating the influence of additive gene action. The study suggests that selecting plants based on these traits could lead to improved yield in okra breeding programs. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Canna lily (Canna indica L.) is an edible herbaceous perennial plant in which flowers and rhizomes were commonly used as a food additive and its potentiality was not fully utilized in India. To stun these hindrances, morphological characterizations are needed to determine the genetic variability to improve flower quality and rhizome yield in canna lily. Methods: In the present research, a field experiment was conducted during 2022-2023 in Botanical Garden, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Twelve accessions were investigated by using a randomized block design with 3 replications. All the observations for 23 quantitative traits were carried out at 0.05 and 0.01 probability. Result: A wide range of genetic variability was observed, a high genetic coefficient of variation ranged from 8.49 to 75.62% and a phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 8.83 to 76.50% was observed in 20 traits except in days to fist bloom, rhizome diameter, number of nodes per rhizome. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percent of mean was observed for 21 traits except in days to fist bloom and number of nodes per rhizome. Character association analysis revealed that stem diameter and inflorescence length showed highly significant and positively correlated with flower yield and rhizome yield per plant. Path analysis specified that the number of leaves per clump had a very high and positive direct effect on fresh flower yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on the genetic variability in vegetable pea genotypes in the Bundelkhand region of India. The study collected 25 pea accessions from different regions and evaluated them for various traits. The results showed significant genetic variation in the source material, with high coefficients of variation for most characteristics. The study identified several genotypes with high yield and recommended them for use in improving local pea varieties in the region. The given text appears to be a table presenting data on various genotypes of garden pea and vegetable pea, providing valuable information for researchers studying these pea genotypes. The document also provides estimates of genetic components for various yield attributing traits in 25 genotypes of garden pea, including mean values, range, genetic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability, and genetic advance. The results suggest that certain traits, such as yield and plant height, are less influenced by the environment and more reliant on genotypic performance. [Extracted from the article]

The present investigation was conducted at the experimental farm of SASRD: NU, Medziphema, Nagaland during kharif season 2019. Fourteen genotypes were procured from the three states of northeast for the present study. The experiment was carried out in randomized block design. Observations were recorded as average of five randomly sampled plants from each plot. The corms were sown during the month of April 2020. Quantitative characters such as plant height, leaf length, number of leaves, number of corms and corms yield per plant were recorded. Quantitative characters were subjected to statistical analysis. The analysis of variance showed significant difference among genotypes for the studied traits. High GCV (33.881) and PCV (52.349) were registered for corms yield per plant. High estimates of heritability and genetic advance were recorded for number of leaves and plant height. Thus, these traits may be used as selection criteria in breeding programme. Plant height and leaf length showed significant positive correlation with the yield per plant at both phenotypic and genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis revealed that plant height and leaf length exerted positive direct effect and also exhibited significant positive correlation with yield per plant at genotypic level indicating a true relationship among the traits. This suggested that the direct selection for plant height, leaf length and number of leaves would likely be effective in increasing yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little millet is one of the underutilized crops among the cereals, which is being cultivated by farmers of tribal agriculture. The landraces under cultivation possess excellent variability presenting good opportunities for selection. In view of this, the current study was carried out with 17 little millet landraces for 10 quantitative and nine qualitative traits. The study revealed the preponderance of additive gene action for all the 10 traits and hence effective selection could be done for their improvement. Higher to moderate ranges for PCV and GCV with minimum ECV for genetic variability for all the traits were observed. Among the nine qualitative traits, there were significant variations observed for inflorescence shape and panicle compactness. Hence, these traits could be utilized as major DUS descriptors in differentiating the little millet landraces in future. Further the PCA analysis exhibited three reliable principal components contributing to an overall variation of 74.54%. The traits such as days to 50% flowering, peduncle length and flag leaf length were the major positive contributors for variability across all the eigen vectors. These traits were found to exhibit a higher variability among the population and thus a rewarding selection and hybridization for improving these traits could be effected in future breeding programs. Among all the landraces and varieties chittan samai, perunsamai, ATL 1, CO 4 (samai), paakulam karunjamai and vellai samai could be further identified as desirable donors for improving the yield parameters in little millet breeding programs in future.

Maize is one of the important cereals in the world. It is a good source of carbohydrates (70-87%) and protein (6-13%). To develop a high-yielding variety of any crop, heritability and genetic advance are important selection parameters for the selection of yield and yield attributes. In this regard, the present investigation was carried out at the Namdeo Umaji Agri Tech India Private Limited, Pune, during Kharif, 2022 to study the extent of variability among maize genotypes. Observations were recorded on 19 polygenic traits and the mean values were subjected to statistical analyses. High GCV and PCV were recorded for anthesis and silking interval, number of leaves, lodging percentage, number of kernels per row and grain yield per plant. High heritability accompanied by high genetic advance was noted for anthesis and silking interval, lodging percentage, grain yield per plant, number of leaves per plant, number of kernels per row, number of tassel branches, leaf width, days to 50% silking, protein content, leaf length, number of kernel rows per cob, cob diameter and cob length. It indicates that these traits are governed by additive gene action and selection will be rewarding for improving these traits in maize.

Twenty bacterial wilt resistant lines including recently developed lines at CSKHPKV, Palampur (08) were studied to ascertain the extent of genetic variability, the type and magnitude of correlation between component characters & marketable yield, as well as the direct and indirect impacts of every character on marketable yield. For all variables except plant survival, analysis of variance exhibited significant differences across genotypes. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) values for lycopene content (80.581%, 80.148%), titrable acidity (73.666%, 71.219%), marketable yield / plant (53.953%, 52.598%), marketable fruits / plant (34.994%, 34.050%), gross yield / plant (34.094%, 30.553%), average weight of fruit (30.558%, 29.13%), locules / fruit (28.549%, 25.050%), and ascorbic acid (23.641%, 20.919%) respectively, were found high across different parameters of variability. Marketable yield / plant (95.043%, 45.633%), marketable fruits/plant (94.68%, 68.252%), titrable acidity (93.467%, 48.838%), average weight of fruit (90.877%, 57.206%), gross yield / plant (80.305%, 56.402%), ascorbic acid (78.295%, 38.130%), and locules / fruit (76.985%, 45.276%) were found with high heritability and high genetic advance. Marketable yield / plant was significantly and positively associated with average weight of fruit (0.734, 0.795), gross yield / plant (0.774, 0.853), marketable fruits / plant (0.734, 0.742), pericarp thickness (0.693, 0.806), ascorbic acid (0.381, 0.469), titrable acidity (0.347, 0.364) and locules/fruit (0.284, 0.345) at both phenotypic as well as genotypic levels, respectively. Path coefficient analysis showed that marketable fruits / plant (0.589, 0.608), gross yield / plant (0.278, 0.617) and average weight of fruit (0.382, 0.182) are the three main parameters that had the greatest positive direct impact on marketable yield / plant at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty advanced lines of wheat obtained from Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), Ludhiana, Punjab were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications for yield and its contributing characters at Agriculture Research Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India during rabi 2021-2022. Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance per cent of the meanand analysis of variance were carried out for 14 traits. The mean sum of square (MSS) due to genotypes was highly significant for all the fourteen traits. Grain yield per plant exhibited the highest phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) followed by harvest index, the number of spikes per plant, the number of tillers per plant and biological yield per plant. Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was found to be highest for grain yield per plant followed by harvest index, the number of spikes per plant, the number of tillers per plant and biological yield per plant. Very high heritability estimates were associated with high estimates of genetic advance for the number of tillers per plant, the number of spikes per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index, grain yield per plant, chlorophyll content, and flag leaf area which revealed the presence of additive gene effects, showing the efficiency of selection method of breeding for improving these attributes in wheat.

Genetic variability for plant type and seed yield components among 318 recombinant inbred lines of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L) Millspaugh] was studied during the Kharif season of 2017-18 and 2018-19. The characters studied include plant height, the number of primary branches, the number of secondary branches, days to flowering, and days to maturity, the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod, pod bearing length and branching angle with the main axis. Significant genetic variability was observed among the recombinant inbred lines. Remarkable genotypic differences were found for many of the traits under study. The recombinant inbred line population studied under two environments showed less genotype and environment interaction. The difference between the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) is less indicating high heritability of the traits under study and control of additive gene action. The genetic advance over the percentage of the mean was also high for all the traits under study. From the study, it was inferred that genotypes with determinate plant types with a greater number of pod and primary branches early flowering and early maturing with high seed weight and acute branching angle play a significant role in enhancing the yield.

The present study is aimed at assessing the extent and pattern of genetic variability present among soybean germplasm accessions (2000) obtained from IISR (Indian Institute of Soybean Research), Indore, Madhya Pradesh. It was studied at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore for 7 quantitative traits and 13 qualitative traits. The germplasm accessions along with three check entries were sown in augmented design in 21 compact blocks during 2021 summer season at the experimental plots of Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru. Substantial variability among the accessions for quantitative traits and polymorphism for qualitative traits were documented. The germplasm accessions could be grouped into 10 clusters following K-means clustering approach. The variability parameters like mean, range of variation, GCV, PCV, heritability and genetic advance were estimated for all traits. The differences between GCV and PCV estimates were narrow for all traits indicating less contribution of environmental factors in traits expression. High estimates of heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed in all traits. The traits with higher heritability and GA value may indicate their variability and high selective value. Some of the germplasm accessions were superior to the check KBS 23, JS 335 and DSB 21. The accessions contrasting for individual and multiple traits were identified. These results are discussed in relation to suitable strategies to be adopted for breeding soybean for improved productivity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-two cowpea genotypes were evaluated in randomized block design to assess the nature and magnitude of variability, heritability and genetic advance for ten quantitative traits. Analysis of variance unveiled that differences among the genotypes were significant for all the characters considered indicating the presence of a substantial amount of genetic variation among the germplasm studied. High estimates of GCV and PCV were recorded for clusters per plant, seed yield per plant, pods per plant, plant height and seeds per pod, while high estimates of heritability were recorded for all the characters under study. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for plant height, seed yield per plant, clusters per plant, pods per plant, test weight, seeds per pod, pod length and branches per plant suggesting predominance of additive gene effects and these characters could be improved through selection.

An experiment to estimate the extent of variability, heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean on twenty accessions of Indigofera tinctoria collected from diverse geographical locations and raised in the Orchard unit of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The biometric observations of plant height, plant spread, the number of branches, the number of leaves, leaf area, biomass, fresh weight of shoots, fresh weight of leaves, glucoside content, indigo content dye yield and dye recovery were recorded at 160 days after sowing. High GCV estimates were recorded for dye yield, leaf area, dye recovery, glucoside content, the number of branches, the number of leaves, indigo content, plant height, fresh weight of leaves and fresh weight of shoot. The high heritability estimate for the glucoside content (82.02 %) revealed the possibility of increasing the glucoside content. The character dye yield was positively and significantly correlated with plant height, plant spread, the number of branches, the number of leaves, leaf area, fresh weight of leaves, fresh weight of shoot, biomass, glucoside content, dye recovery and indigo content both at genotypic as well as phenotypic levels.

Fifty germplasm lines of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) were evaluated to study the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficient and path analysis for yield and yield attributes. The differences were statistically significant among the genotypes for all the characters. The genotype KIM-14 was found promising for fibre yield and yield contributing characters. The stick weight per plant recorded the highest variance at genotypic and phenotypic levels followed by plant height, days to flower initiation, days to 50% flowering, fibre yield and per cent fibre recovery and the lowest variance was for green weight and basal diameter. The higher phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV) than genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV) for all the traits revealed that the characters were highly influenced by the environment. Days to 50% flowering showed high heritability followed by days to flower initiation, fibre yield, stick weight and plant height indicates a good amount of additive genetic components, can be easily utilized for the further crop improvement programme. Stick weight and plant height maintained higher and green weight maintained lower genetic advance. The moderate to high genetic advance with higher heritability over per cent of the mean was in stick weight and plant height indicates a preponderance of additive gene action. Thus, selections should make considering these characters to develop high fibre yielding varieties of kenaf. The value of genotypic correlation was higher than the phenotypic correlation indicates to eliminate the environmental effects for strengthening genetic association. The yield contributing characters were significantly associated with fibre yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Basal diameter (1.679) at a genotypic level and stick yield, per cent fibre recovery and days to flower initiation maintained positive phenotypic and genotypic direct effect on fibre yield per plant.

Twenty bacterial wilt resistant lines including recently developed lines at CSKHPKV, Palampur (08) were studied to ascertain the extent of genetic variability, the type and magnitude of correlation between component characters & marketable yield, as well as the direct and indirect impacts of every character on marketable yield. For all variables except plant survival, analysis of variance exhibited significant differences across genotypes. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) values for lycopene content (80.581%, 80.148%), titrable acidity (73.666%, 71.219%), marketable yield / plant (53.953%, 52.598%), marketable fruits / plant (34.994%, 34.050%), gross yield / plant (34.094%, 30.553%), average weight of fruit (30.558%, 29.13%), locules / fruit (28.549%, 25.050%), and ascorbic acid (23.641%, 20.919%) respectively, were found high across different parameters of variability. Marketable yield / plant (95.043%, 45.633%), marketable fruits /plant (94.68%, 68.252%), titrable acidity (93.467%, 48.838%), average weight of fruit (90.877%, 57.206%), gross yield / plant (80.305%, 56.402%), ascorbic acid (78.295%, 38.130%), and locules / fruit (76.985%, 45.276%) were found with high heritability and high genetic advance. Marketable yield / plant was significantly and positively associated with average weight of fruit (0.734, 0.795), gross yield / plant (0.774, 0.853), marketable fruits / plant (0.734, 0.742), pericarp thickness (0.693, 0.806), ascorbic acid (0.381, 0.469), titrable acidity (0.347, 0.364) and locules/ fruit (0.284, 0.345) at both phenotypic as well as genotypic levels, respectively. Path coefficient analysis showed that marketable fruits / plant (0.589, 0.608), gross yield / plant (0.278, 0.617) and average weight of fruit (0.382, 0.182) are the three main parameters that had the greatest positive direct impact on marketable yield / plant at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, respectively

An experiment was carried out in timely sown condition during Rabi, 2018-20 to study the genetic variability, correlation, heritability and expected genetic advance for 13 traits in F2 and F3 populations of two wheat crosses and consequently identify superior transgressive segregants. The experimental material consisted of an F2 population of two crosses K 0307 × LOK 1 (cross 1) and HD 2733 × HUW 234 (cross 2) evaluated in an unreplicated trial and seeds of each identified transgressive segregants in F2 generation was forwarded to F3 generation for its evaluation and further sorting the superior segregants to be carry forwarded. The identified transgressive segregants exhibited a wide range of variation for all the traits except for spike length, indicating the presence of enough genetic variability in the material under study. The phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) values were higher than genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) values for most of the traits studied. Estimates of genetic parameters, PCV and GCV in K 0307 × LOK 1 was highest for spikelets per spike and lowest for days to 50% flowering and days to maturity in both F2 and F3. While, highest for yield per plant and lowest for days to 50% flowering and days to maturity in HD 2733 × HUW 234. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for spikelets per spike, test weight in a cross 1, in both F2 and F3. Similarly in cross 2, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for grain filling days and yield per plant. Correlation analysis suggested that yield had a positive and significant relationship with test weight, grain per spike, and spikelets per spike for the F3 families of transgressive segregants of the cross 1. In cross 2, test weight, grain per spike, number of effective tillers, spikelets per spike, peduncle length, days to 50% flowering, and plant height had a positive and significant relationship with yield.

A total of 33 sesame genotypes including three checks were grown in Randomized Block Design in three replications for evaluation of yield and yield attributing traits. Data was recorded for different yield attributing traits from all the genotypes viz., days to 50 % flowering, number of productive branches, plant height, height of 1st capsule bearing node, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, capsule length, inter-node length, days to maturity, 1000-grain weight, per cent of oil and yield. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters. The magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was larger for seed yield, number of productive branch and inter-node length. Genetic advance as per cent of mean for seed yield, numbers of productive branches, height of 1st node from ground and internode length were higher in sesame genotypes. Correlation exhibited significant and high positive for number of productive branches, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and days to maturity with seed yield. Path analysis indicated that the traits such as number of productive branches, number of capsules per plant, days to maturity, number of seeds per capsule had high positive direct effect on seed yield. These traits are to be given due importance in the selection process of sesame breeding programme.

Sixteen single-cross hybrids of maize were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications to investigate genetic variability and correlation among growth and yield traits at Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal from March 13 to September 05, 2021. The hybrids were grouped into four clusters using Euclidean Average Linkage method. The cluster analysis showed the presence of genetic variability in the evaluated hybrids. The maximum distance between cluster centroids (194.28) was found between cluster 2 and cluster 4, indicating genetic dissimilarity. Grain yield had the maximum values of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) (35.02%), followed by ear height (17.82%) and plant height (12.22%). Similarly, grain yield had the maximum values of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) (26.24%) followed by the number of kernel rows/cob (8.77%) and days to 50% silking (8.72%). Days to 50% silking and days to 50% tasseling had the highest values of heritability (86%) followed by cob diameter (84%) and no. of kernel rows in cob (68%). The leaf area per plant had the maximum values of genetic advance (GA) (74.87 cm2), followed by plant height (27.80 cm) and days to 50% silking (9.66 days). Similarly, the maximum values of genetic advance as percent of the mean (GAM) was found for grain yield (40.50%) followed by days to 50% silking (16.70%) and days to 50% tasseling (16.17%). The hybrids namely KWM-91 × KWM-93 produced the maximum values of grain yield (9.99 t ha–1) followed by KWM-93 × KWM-91 (9.63 t ha–1) and KWM-92 × KWM-93 (9.40 t ha–1). Grain yield showed positive and significant phenotypic correlation with days to 50% silking (r = 0.41), days to 50% tasseling (r = 0.39), plant height (r = 0.37), cob diameter (r = 0.49) and the number of kernel rows in cob (r = 0.38). Therefore, utilization of present genetic variability along with indirect selection for traits having significant association with grain yield, high heritability and GAM could aid in the improvement of maize productivity.

Present study was carried out to assess the genetic variability and correlation for yield and its contributing traits using 89 elite lines of kabuli during rabi 2018-19. Analysis of variance revealed, the significant differences among the lines for all the traits indicated that the presence of sufficient amount of genetic variability among the lines. High GCV% and PCV % accounted for the traits seed yield per plant followed by stem height at initiation of first flower, number of effective pods per plant, total number of pods per plant and biological yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean noted for seed yield per plant, stem height at initiation of first flower and number of effective pods per plant. Selection of the line had more than 25 cm stem height at initiation of first flower, viz. FLIP12-278C, FLIP12-161C, JGK-2018-5, ICCV181309 and ICCV181305, would be suitable for mechanical harvesting. Seed yield per plant showed highly significant and positive association with biological yield per plant , harvest index, 100 seed weight , total number of effective pods per plant, while highly significant but negative correlation with days to pod initiation followed by days to 50% flowering and days to flower initiation. Lines identified having maximum 100 seed weight, viz. JGK-2018-1, JGK-2018-2, JGK-2018-3,JGK-2018-4, RVSVT-K-105, RVSVT-K-110 and ICCV181307.The diverse promising lines could be used in chickpea breeding programme and improved nutritional foodsecurity.

A field experiment was carried out to estimate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for 19 traits among 30 genotypes of China aster. The randomized complete block design with two replications was employed at the College of Horticulture, Mudigere, during the year 2017-18. Analysis of variance revealed that significant differences were observed for all the traits. The phenotypic co-efficient of variation (PCV) was a higher magnitude than the genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. Narrow differences between GCV and PCV were recorded in all the characters except flowering duration, vase-life and shelf-life, indicating little environmental influence on the expression of these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent mean was recorded for the number of florets per flower head, the weight of flower per plant, plant height, flower head diameter, individual flower weight, disc diameter, the number of flowers per plant, days to 50 per cent flowering, the number of primary branches per plant, the number of flowers per branches, plant spread (North-South), 1000 seed weight, plant spread (East-West), flower stalk length, seed yield per plant, vase life and shelf life proves more useful for efficient improvement of a character through simple selection.

In order to develop high-yielding genotypes of adapted maize, multilocation trials of maize were performed including forty-five maize hybrids exploiting genetic variability, trait associations, and diversity. The experiments were laid out in an RCB design and data were recorded on eight yield and yield-contributing traits, viz., days to anthesis (AD), days to silking (SD), anthesis–silking interval (ASI), plant height (PH), ear height (EH), kernels per ear (KPE), thousand-kernel weight (TKW), and grain yield (GY). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant variation present among the different traits under study. The phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) showed a higher value than the genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV), indicating the environmental influence on the expression of the traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was found for these traits, indicative of additive gene action. The trait associations showed that genotypic correlation was higher than phenotypic correlation. Based on genetic diversity, the total genotypes were divided into four clusters, and the maximum number of 16 genotypes was found in cluster IV. Among the eight yield and yield-contributing traits, PH, ASI, EH, and TKW were the important traits for variability creation and were mostly responsible for yield. Genotypes G5, G8, G27, G29, and G42 were in the top ranks based on grain yield over locations, while a few others showed region-centric performances; all these genotypes can be recommended upon validation for commercial release. The present findings show the existence of proper genetic variability and divergence among traits, and the identified traits can be used in a maize improvement program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient deficiencies lead to various health issues and are common worldwide. Potato germplasm is a rich source of natural variations and genetic variability present in it can be exploited for developing nutrient-rich high-yielding potato varieties. In this study, variations in the yield, dry matter (DM) and mineral nutrients concentrations were evaluated in both peeled and unpeeled tubers of 243 highly diverse tetraploid potato accessions. These were raised under field conditions for two consecutive years. The germplasm studied has a wider range of variations in peeled tubers DM (13.71–27.80%), Fe (17.08–71.03 mg/kg), Zn (9.55–34.78 mg/kg), Cu (2.13–13.25 mg/kg), Mn (7.04–25.15), Ca (117.4-922.5 mg/kg), Mg (656.6-1510.6 mg/kg), S (1121.3-3765.8 mg/kg), K (1.20–3.09%), P (0.21–0.50%) and Mo (53.6–1164.0 ppb) concentrations compared to popular Indian potato varieties. Higher nutrient concentrations in whole tubers compared to tuber flesh suggest that these are present in high concentration in the tuber peripheral layers and peeling off the tubers results in the loss of nutrients. Highest loss due to peeling off the tubers was observed in Fe (35.63%) followed by Cu (22.80%), Mn (21.69%), Ca (21.27%), Mg (12.89%), K (12.75%), Zn (10.13%), and Mo (9.87%). The GCV and PCV for all the traits in peeled tubers ranged from 9.67 to 29.91%, and 13.84 to 43.32%, respectively. Several significant positive correlations were observed among the parameters and the first two principal components accounted for 39.37% of total variations. The results of this study will pave a way for the development of nutrient-rich high-yielding potato varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during 2018. The experimental plot was laid out in Randomized block design without replication due to segregating population with four crosses P2 X P5, P3 x P5, P5 x P6 and P6 x P5 selected from the F2 generation based on the yield attributes of a single plant from the plant population and raised as F3 generation to find out GCV, PCV, heritability, genetic advance, correlation and path analysis for growth and yield traits. Though in segregating generation the plant possesses bizarre of traits in plant population. However, a wider genetic variability was observed in the crosses. The mean performance for vine length (7.47), average fruit weight (1.15) and the number of fruits per plant (3.42) was estimated for the crosses P2 x P5, P3 x P5, P5 x P6 and P6 x P5. The PCV was registered high with low genetic advance over the mean for average fruit weight (40.44), the number of seeds per fruit (30.55) and fruit yield per plant (64.31). From the correlation it was revealed that the traits viz., average fruit weight (0.822), fruit diameter (0.417), the number of seeds per fruit (0.460) and hundred seed weight (0.340) showed a significant and positive association with fruit yield per plant in the F3 generation. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the biometric traits viz., number of fruits per vine (0.5767) and average fruit weight (0.981) showed a positive direct effect on fruit yields per plant and traits like fruit diameter (0.4566), fruit length (0.3221), flesh thickness (0.1728), number of seeds per fruit (0.5719) and hundred seed weight (0.4939) exhibited positive indirect effect through average fruit weight.