ANALYSIS OF VARIATION AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS IN POTATO GERMPLASM

As the exploitation of economic characters in potato is reaching a pla teau, use of exotic germplasm offers an ideal opportunity for further improvement. Fifty-five accessions from eleven countries were studied under long and short day conditions. Wide variation was noticed for a number of phenological, morphological and tuber characters. Analysis o f variation and correlations has demonstrated possibilities for using this diverse germplasm in various potato improvement programs.