Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis among Yield and Yield Associated Traits in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Accessions in the ‘Terai’ Region of Uttarakhand

In a breeding program, knowledge regarding the direct and indirect effects of traits and understanding the traits' relationships in potato genotypes are vital prerequisites for crop improvement. The main focus of the research was to assess the correlation and path analysis in 32 CPRI advanced potato breeding lines using a randomized block design with three replications to direct proper selection criteria for tuber yield in the Terai region of Uttarakhand. Each genotype was assessed for twelve yield-related traits, and the mean data was used for further analysis. Correlation coefficient analysis showed that the average weight of tubers per plant, number of tubers per plant, tuber length, tuber girth, number of branches per plant, and plant height contributed to the highest positive correlation with tuber yield. The path coefficient result revealed that the average weight of tubers per plant, number of tubers per plant, and number of branches per plant had the highest positive direct effect on yield, whereas the effects of other traits were low. Therefore, these specific characters could be used as selection criteria to improve the yield performance of potatoes.