Methodological Approaches to Hybridisation and Selection in the Initial Generations of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Clones
Sarala Yadav *
ICAR Central Potato Research Institute Regional Station, Patna, Bihar- 801 506, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) breeding is complicated by tetraploidy, high heterozygosity, and clonal propagation, making systematic selection across early generations essential. This study evaluated hybridisation and stage-wise clonal selection for developing red-skinned, medium-maturing table potato cultivars suitable for the eastern plains of India during 2020–21 and 2021–22. Female parents were selected for early maturity, early bulking, tuber skin and flesh colour, shape, and eye depth, whereas male parents were selected for plant type, tuber colour, and pollen viability. Hybridisation was conducted at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute facilities in Patna and Shimla, and progenies were evaluated at Patna. In total, 83,440 and 109,603 true potato seeds from 84 and 26 successful crosses, respectively, were sown, and 57,758 and 52,333 seedlings were transplanted. Selection based on tuber colour, shape, flesh colour, eye depth, yield, and disease reaction retained 1,619 and 1,660 F₁ clones in the respective years. Subsequent evaluation retained 169 and 113 F₁C₁ cultures, 79 and 52 F₁C₂ cultures, and 28 and 17 F₁C₃ cultures. Selected F₁C₃ clones were advanced for preliminary yield evaluation. The results demonstrate a progressive, trait-based selection procedure for reducing large seedling populations to manageable clonal sets. Replicated, multi-location, and multi-year testing remains necessary to confirm the yield stability and adaptation of the advanced clones.
Keywords: Potato breeding, hybridisation, true potato seed, early clonal generations, clonal selection, red-skinned potato, tuber yield, tuber quality