International Journal Of Rural Development, Environment And Health Research(IJREH)

The study was conducted at Haro Sabu Agricultural Research center of Belam sub-site during 2023 main cropping season to estimate the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for 34 potato genotypes and two standard check potato varieties viz Gudanie and Belete. The experiment was laid down 6x6 simple lattice design. The analysis of variance was performed, and the estimation of variance components, heritability in a broad sense, and genetic advance were conducted. The mean squares due to genotypes were highly significant (P<0.01) for days to maturity, marketable and total tuber yield while tuber size, number of tuber per hill and average tuber weight were significant (P<0.05) whereas unmarketable yield was non-significant. In this experiment, genotypic variance values ranged from 0.01 to 27.84 for average tuber weight and total tuber yield, respectively, while phenotypic variance values ranged from 0.03 for total average tuber weight to 40.46 for total tuber yield. The GCV values ranged from 0.04% for marketable yield to 30.60% unmarketable yield, while, the PCV values ranged from 5.24% for days to maturity to 48.67% for unmarketable yield. Estimates of heritability in a broad sense ranged from 39.52% for unmarketable yield to 68.80 for total tuber yield, whereas genetic advance as a percentage of mean ranged from 3.91% for days to maturity to 216.18% for total tuber yield. According to the study results, a high range of variability for most of the investigated traits was observed, indicating a sufficient chance of selecting the best genotypes to improve potato productivity through selection. In the current study, high heritability joined with high- expected genetic advance as a percentage of mean was recorded for marketable yield and total tuber yield, and those characters could be used as good criteria for selection in the potato improvement program.