Vol. 9, Issue 2, Part I (2025)

Potato is a globally significant food crop and a vital source of nutrition, plays a crucial role in food security due to its high productivity, nutritional value and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. This study was conducted at Horticulture Research and Extension Centre, Haasan during kharif and rabi season of 2021-22, aimed to investigates genetic variability, heritability and divergence analysis for growth, yield and nutritional traits in potato genotypes. The pooled analysis of variance revealed significant differences among potato genotypes for growth, yield and biochemical traits, with stable genotypic effects for agronomic traits and notable genotype × environment interactions for specific biochemical parameters. The study revealed significant genetic variability for growth, yield and biochemical traits of potato genotypes, with high heritability and genetic advance for traits like tuber yield, number of tubers, carbohydrates and micronutrient content, indicating strong additive gene action. Moderate heritability with moderate genetic advance was observed for traits like haulm yield and titratable acidity, suggesting a mixed influence of genetic and environmental factors. These findings highlight the potential for direct selection to enhance yield, quality, and nutritional traits in potato breeding programs. Genetic divergence analysis grouped them into eight distinct clusters with tuber size, protein content, and tuber length contributed the most to genetic divergence. The highest genetic distance was observed between Clusters VI and VIII, suggesting potential for heterotic hybridization. Cluster VIII showed superior vegetative growth, while Cluster VI excelled in tuber yield, emphasizing the scope for selecting diverse parental lines for targeted trait improvement in potato breeding programs. This study underscores the significant genetic variability among potato genotypes, with high heritability and genetic advance for yield and nutritional traits, making them ideal for direct selection and offering potential for heterotic hybridization and trait improvement in potato breeding programs.