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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #351549
Title: Self-compatibility in a diploid hybrid population of Solanum tuberosum groups Phureja and Stenotomum

Author
item Haynes, Kathleen
item GUEDES, MARCIO LISBOA - Federal University Of Lavras

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2018
Publication Date: 8/1/2018
Citation: Haynes, K.G., Guedes, M. 2018. Self-compatibility in a diploid hybrid population of Solanum tuberosum groups Phureja and Stenotomum. American Journal of Potato Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-018-9680-y.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-018-9680-y

Interpretive Summary: Recently proposals have been made in both Europe and North America to introduce a new potato breeding strategy that may shorten the time required to develop improved potato varieties. The cultivated potato has four sets of chromosomes whereas wild and less adapted potato species have two sets of chromosomes. Breeding of potato plants with only two sets of chromosomes would make transferring and stabilizing new traits into improved varieties much easier relative to plants with four sets of chromosomes. In order to identify suitable plant material for this breeding strategy, we evaluated fertility of plants from selected species with two sets of chromosomes and found self-fertility to be low and was influenced by the environment in which plants were grown. However, we identified individuals that were useful for breeding of varieties with just two sets of chrosomes. This information will be of interest to potato breeders.

Technical Abstract: Recently proposals have been made in both Europe and North America to try to radically change potato breeding strategy from a tetraploid, heterozygous crop to a diploid inbred crop. As part of that effort, clones from the long-day adapted, late blight resistant diploid hybrid Solanum tuberosum Groups Phureja and Stenotomum population were selfed to begin the process of developing inbred lines. In March of 2016 and 2017, 42 diploid clones from the above-mentioned population were selfed in the greenhouse in Beltsville, MD. In 2016 and 2017, 10 and 13 clones failed to flower, respectively. Among the remaining clones, 716 pollinations were made in 2016, resulting in 57 fruit from 17 clones, and 3,742 seeds; 801 pollinations were made in 2017, resulting in 34 fruit from 12 clones, and 1,903 seeds. Nine clones were successfully selfed both years. Percent successful selfs were significantly higher in 2016 (7.96% ) than in 2017 (4.24%). The most prolific clones in 2016 were BD1241-1 (34% successful selfs, 1090 seed), BD1218-3 (25% successful selfs, 638 seed), BD1215-1 (5% successful selfs, 411 seed), BD1243-1 (23% successful selfs, 232 seed). In contrast, the most prolific clones in 2017 were BD1230-2 (25% successful selfs, 537 seed), BD1203-3 (23% successful selfs, 391 seed), and BD1229-1 (11% successful selfs, 388 seed). These results indicate that there is sufficient self-compatibililty in this population to generate large numbers of inbred individuals, but that genotype x environment interactions are large. Attempts to generate selfed seed should be made over several years to maximize the genetic base of the selfed population. This information will be of interest to potato breeders.