Evaluation of Genetic Divergence in Various Potato Genotypes Grown in Bangladesh through Different Traits Assessment

The goal of the study was to quantify the genetic diversity of different potato varieties. Five groups were named to classify the 25 genres of potatoes as: Cluster I (Lalpakri, Diamond), Cluster II (Hagrai, Green Mountain, G.M.O., Elvera), Cluster III (Atlantic, Shepody, Raja, Fundy, Multa, Granulla, Shibilati, Japanese Red), Cluster IV (Atlas, Brondy, Yucon Gold, Monona, Petrones, Cheroki), and Cluster V (Calwhite, Prelude, Allblue, Russet, Burbank, TPS-67). The highest and lowest genotypes are found in Clusters III and I, respectively. The two groups’ maximum inter-cluster distance (the cluster’s distance between them) demonstrates the enormous diversity between Clusters II & III. Cluster III had the greatest intra-cluster distance (distance within a set), whereas Cluster V had the smallest. In most cases, the distance between gaps was more significant than the distance within the holes, showing greater genetic diversity between different groups’ genotypes. The highest, second highest, and third highest eigenvalues, accompanying the positive canonical values for Vectors I and II of three characteristics: average tuber weight in each plant, the tubers number in each plant, and the eyes number in each tuber, showed the most outstanding contribution to the complete difference between genotypes. Of the nine features, the smaller leaves number in each plant, the shorter plant height, the more minor genotypes, the fewer eyes per tube generated from Cluster I, the maximum height of the plants, the high-quality tubers in each plant, the tubers number in each plant, the fresh weight in each plant, and the leaf number in each plant from Cluster II could be chosen in the role of parents in this program for hybridization. Given the size of the genetic distance, the various characteristics that contribute to the overall difference, and the average population size, Hagrai, Green Mountain, O.M.G., Elvera Cluster II and Cluster I, Lalpakri, and Diamond genotypes can be regarded as parents of hybridization programs in the future. Thus, producers can get guidance to enhance genetic diversity by selecting materials from different relatives and reducing their vulnerability to diseases and climate change.