Genetic Diversity and Interrelationship of Qualitative and Quantitative Traits in Sweet Potato

Abstract

Understanding the nature and magnitude of genetic diversity and interrelationship among sweet potato genotypes for traits of economic importance is vital to effective crop improvement. Genetic variability, character association, path coefficient, and genetic diversity analysis for 17 qualitative and quantitative traits in 20 diverse sweet potato genotypes was undertaken. A wide range of genetic variation occurred for tuber yield per plant, carotene content, starch content, fresh weight of tubers per plant, and numbers of branch per plant. Fresh weight of tuber per plant had a positive phenotypic correlation with number of tubers per plant followed by days to maturity and vine internode length. Total carotene content had a positive significant association with vine length, number of leaves per plant, and number of branches per plant. Days to maturity had a positive phenotypic correlation with vine length, vine internode length, and number of leaves per plant. At the genotypic level the highest, positive, direct effect on fresh weight of tubers per plant was due to dry matter content and days to maturity followed by moisture content via numbers of tubers per plant and total sugar content. Cluster analysis divided genotypes into two main groups, indicating a genetic relationship among accessions. The genetic variability and traits relationship could provide new avenues to breed improved sweet potato.