Adaptability Trial to Determine the Yield Potential of Exotic Potato Varieties at Multi-Locations of Gilgit-Baltistan

An adaptive trial was conducted by Department of Agriculture Research Gilgit-Baltistan to evaluate the performance of nine exotic potato varieties under the climatic conditions of Gilgit-Baltistan. Tubers of varieties Zena Red, Kuroda, Roko, Lady Rosita, Melanto, Pameela, Sante, Bartina and Asterix were sown at Seed Potato and Vegetables Research Station, Naltar Gilgit. The experiment laid out using Replicated Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Standard agronomic and plant protection measures were applied. Data of the parameters such as plant height, number of stems per plant, number of tubers per plant, weight of tubers per plant and yield per hectare were observed. Analysis of variance showed that all the varieties were significantly different in all the parameters. LSD test was applied to compare means of all the parameters. Plant height showed significant difference among the varieties with Pameela showing maximum plant height of 60.1 cm followed by variety Zena Red having 56.4 cm. Variety Sante showed least plant height having mean of 21.1cm. Variations were observed among the varieties for number of stems per plant. Pameela showed maximum number of stems having mean of 5.9 followed by variety Roko having mean value of 5.6. Least number of stems were observed in variety Melanto which had mean value of 2.2. Variations were also observed among the varieties for number of tuber per plant. Variety Roko produced maximum number of tubers having mean value of 14.3 followed by variety Pameela with a mean value of 13.8. Variety Melanto produced least number of tubers per plant having mean value of 7.1.  Maximum tuber weight per plant was produced by Zena Red having a mean value of 1107.1g followed by variety Bartina which produced 1030.7g of tubers per plant. Melanto produced least weight of tubers per plants with a mean value of 682.9g. Variety Roko was best yielder producing 21.6 tons/ha of seed potato while varieties Bartina and Lady Rosita showed minimum yield of 14.2 tons/ha
Key words: Adaptive Trial, Exotic Varieties, Potato, Climatic Conditions, Naltar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Analysis of Variance, LSD.