Genetic variability, association and path analysis for yield and fruit quality components in yellow- berried nightshade (Solanum surattense)

A study was conducted to investigate the selection criteria in 54 kantakari accessions based on 14 morphological and qualitative traits employing correlation, path analysis, principal component analysis cluster analysis. The viz., plant spread (N-S), (E-W), number of branches per plant, flower clusters berries, fresh berry yield dry hectare, total proteins, phenols, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, FRAP activity solasodine were recorded. For seven quantitative attributes, simple descriptive statistics revealed a normal distribution. Plant (N-S) (1.309), production (0.751), (0.808), hectare (0.816) content (1.215) were all significant showed positive skewnesses. spread, berries proteins exhibited highly positive correlations with plant. quantity protein showed direct effect yield. Quantity as primary incidental variables for or negative correlation features Principal that first five components Eigen values greater than one accounted maximum 74.32 percent variability. Number (0.901), (0.938), (0.962), attributes contributing most variance PC1, which responsible 26.97% overall variation (0.964). divided into two main using Wards method hierarchical Cluster II contributed more significantly quality I, comprised high yielding accessions. To effectively exploit promising genotypes future breeding programmes, it would be advantageous categorise numerous parameters. Keywords: Variability, path, Solanum surattense