Asian Journal of Research and Review in Agriculture

Purple-fleshed sweetpotato (PFSP) is a vital root crop enhancing food and nutrition security, owing to its high anthocyanin content with proven health benefits and industrial potential. This study assessed trait associations and genetic parameters in nine PFSP genotypes during the 2025 main cropping season at Hawassa Agricultural Research Center, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Nine key traits were evaluated: sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) severity, vine length, root length and girth, above-ground biomass, number of roots per plant, marketable/unmarketable root yields, and total root yield. Analysis revealed substantial genotypic variability across traits, with genotypic correlations exceeding phenotypic ones, highlighting strong genetic effect. High phenotypic (PCV: 61.6–286.2%) and genotypic (GCV: 59.6–272.9%) coefficients of variation, coupled with genetic advance as a percent of the mean (GAM) up to 536%, indicating robust improvement predictions. Broad-sense heritability (H²) was very high (93.6-99.4%), with higher GAM indicating additive gene action for most traits, which is ideal for selection. Notably, number of roots per plant, root length, and root girth showed positive correlations with yield, serving as reliable selection indices. These findings provide information to develop superior PFSP varieties with enhanced yield, anthocyanin levels, and SPVD resistance, to support food security, nutrition, and agro-industrial applications in Ethiopia.