Phenotyping, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Oromo Potato (Plectranthus edulis) Accessions at Horro and Guduru Districts, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the cropping season of 2007/2008E.C. on 20 accessions of Ethiopian potato /Oromo potato (Plectranthus edulis) collected from Western parts of Oromiay. The objectives were to evaluate the phenotypic variability of the accessions and identify heritability and genetic advance of the traits. All accessions grown in two row plots in randomized complete block design with three replications on two environments. 13 morphological characters were recorded. The collected data was subjected to ANOVA. The result showed most characters were significant (P<0.05) on combined analysis. Individual location analysis also carried out and all characters except flower length and leaf width showed highly significance (P<0.01) at both environments. The mean performance of the genotypes indicated that the highest tuber weight per plot (6.75kg/plot or 225quntal/hac.) was recorded from LUK/07, while low tuber yield of (0.5kg/p or 66.7quntal/hac.) was obtained from 02 ROB/07 at Gitilo. At Guduru the highest tuber weight per plot (7.2 kg/p or 240qunta/hac.) was recorded from BS102 and the lowest yield of (0.58 kg/plot or 72quntal/hac.) was obtained from 02 ROB/07) than the other accession. Higher GCV and PCV values were observed for tuber weight per plot, tuber length, number of marketable tuber per hill, number of stem per hill, number of brunches per stem and leaf length at Gitilo; at Guduru, flower length, tuber diameter, tuber weight per plot, tuber length, number of marketable tuber per hill, number of stem per hill, number of brunches per stem and leaf length had relatively high genetic advance as percent of mean and high heritability; hence, they can be used as a selection criterion, but ultimate evaluation must be performed in the target environment prior to using them. Lowest GCV and PCV values (< 5 %) were observed for number of brunches per stem at Guduru. The high PCV and GCV observed are evident from their high variability that in turn offers good scope for selection. This means that effective and satisfactory selection for practical improvement of these important traits