Agro-Climatic Adaptability and Performance Evaluation of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties in the Hazara Region of Pakistan

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in Pakistan is often limited by the use of poorly performing varieties and the prevalence of major diseases. In this study, fourteen genotypes were tested under the agro-ecological conditions of Hazara during the 2025 growing season using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) among genotypes for all recorded traits, reflecting considerable genetic variability. Among the yield components, tuber number was most strongly associated with yield (r = 0.814, P < 0.01), indicating its central role in productivity. In contrast, both early blight and common scab were negatively related to yield, suggesting that disease pressure substantially reduces performance. The genotype Gravity outperformed all others, producing the highest yield (16.97 kg plot⁻¹; approximately 30.2 t ha⁻¹), followed by ML-12-0801 and Kyra. The large variation observed for tuber number, coupled with minimal experimental error, points to strong genetic control of this trait. Overall, yield differences among genotypes were largely explained by their capacity to produce more tubers and maintain lower disease levels. While the findings are useful for identifying promising material under Hazara conditions, further evaluation across multiple locations and seasons is necessary before broader recommendations can be made.