Background: Tuber yield in potato is a function of positive association of tuber related traits. Understanding the interplays of these traits is useful for a meaningful selection process and tuber yield improvement. Methods: Field experiment was conducted in 2017-18 and 2018-19 dry seasons at Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano and Teaching and Research Farm of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil to assess the relationships of yield related characters and their contribution to-tuber yield in potato. Treatments comprised of five planting times (late October, early November, mid-November, late November and early December), two methods of propagation (whole seed and cut seed) and three plant densities (66,666; 43,333 and 33,333) per hectare. These were combined and laid down in an incomplete-block design; in fractional factorial using D-optimality criterion. Simple and partial correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationships, direct, indirect and combined contributions of the measured variables to tuber yield. Result: Tuber yield, average tuber weight (g), number of tubers per plant and marketable tuber were positively correlated to tuber yield. Significant but negative correlation between number of non-marketable tubers and tuber yield was also observed. The direct, indirect and combined contributions of average tuber weight (g), number of tubers per plant, number of marketable and non-marketable tubers indicated significant improvement in tuber yield.

Schiff base ligand derived from condensation of 2-aminothiophenol and 2‑thiophenecarboxyldehyde was synthesized and used for the preparation of Ni(II) and Cd(II) complexes. The synthesized ligand and complexes were analyzed by decomposition temperature, solubility, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance and infrared spectra. The decomposition temperatures of the complexes are 212 and 221°C. Molar conductance values are 16.12 and 12.60 ohm-1cm2mol-1 respectively. New bands appeared in the IR spectra of the complexes in the range of 519 - 475 cm-1 and 462 - 448 cm-1 which indicate υ (M - N) and υ (M - S) vibrations respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurement indicated that Ni (II) complex is paramagnetic whileCd(II) complex is diamagnetic. The solubility test revealed that all complexes and ligand are soluble in DMSO. The analytical data show the formation of 2:1 metal to ligand ratio for all complexes and suggested the formula [ML2].nH2O. The ligand and metal chelates have been studied for microbial activity using well diffusion method against selected bacteria and fungi. The results signify that Ni(II) and Cd(II) metal complexes inhibit more compared with Schiff base ligand against the same test organisms.

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