Evaluation of tuber quality, yield and yield related traits of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes at Holetta, Central Ethiopia

Abstract In Ethiopia, potato is a food security and income generating crop for millions of smallholder farmers. Previous research efforts related to variety development was focusing on tube yield and late blight resistance with wide adaptability. So far, the potato research program in the country however, devoted less on tuber quality traits and processing parameters except few recently released varieties that considered tuber quality traits for processing. These few potato varieties with processing qualities not yet satisfied the ever-emerging processing industries for chips and French fries in the country. Hence, this study aimed to seek evaluating more potato genotypes that have merits for tuber quality traits used for processing and yield attributes. The experiment was laid out in a randomized completed block design with three replications using 24 potato genotypes to evaluate the processing quality traits of advanced potato genotypes at Holetta Agricultural Research Centre in 2017 main cropping season. The results of the analysis of variance revealed that all the traits showed significant differences among the genotypes indicating there is wide genetic variation. The highest and significantly different tuber physical quality traits of geometric mean diameter and surface area was recorded from CIP395017.229, sphericity of the tuber from CIP396027.205, and length to width ratio from CIP399075.7. The specific gravity of tubers, dry matter content and total starch content also ranged from 1.070 to 1.103 gcm −3 , 18.67 to 25.75%, and 12.64% to 18.95%, respectively. The five advanced genotypes CIP398098.65, CIP392617.54, CIP398190.404, CIP394611.112, and C398190.89 were selected for their high total tuber yields over 36.80 t/ha, with more than 31.47 t/ha marketable tuber yield, greeter than 69.92 g/tuber average tuber weight, higher than 58.41 mm 3 geometric mean diameter, more than 21.25% dry matter content, excellent tuber characteristics and processing quality traits for chips and French fries making. From this study, selection of potato genotypes that consider both external and internal tuber quality traits would expedite the process of advancing ample potato varieties with processing qualities in the country considering comprehensive study by including more potato genotypes across wider growing environments.