Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #324229
Title: Use of potato genetic diversity to challenge abiotic stresses in the high Andes of Peru

Author
item DEL RIO, A - University Of Wisconsin
item Bamberg, John
item ARCOS, J - Instituto Nacional De Innovacion Agraria (INIA)
item ELLIS, D - International Potato Center
item PALTA, J - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: European Association for Potato Research
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2015
Publication Date: 11/15/2015
Citation: del Rio, A., Bamberg, J., Arcos, J., Ellis, D., Palta, J.P. 2015. Use of potato genetic diversity to challenge abiotic stresses in the high Andes of Peru. European Association for Potato Research. p. 32.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Unexpected frost is one of the most serious constraints in the Andean region and, recent climate change models are predicting even more severe and untimely frost episodes. Since agriculture is dependent on climate and sensitive to climate change, work is needed to keep it sustainable. From a long term effort at the US Potato Genebank and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, frost tolerant potatoes with cultivar potential have been developed. These clones originated from initial crosses between two frost hardy species S. acaule and S. commersonnii which were subsequently crossed with cultivated and Andean native potatoes. True seeds from some of the crosses were sent to CIP in 2006 and they were placed and evaluated in fields located in Central and Southern Peru. After several screenings in the highlands we have identified promising selections that are frost hardy and unlike traditional hardy native potatoes in the Andes, these selections are non-bitter potatoes. In addition, they have equal or better yield as compared to the native potato cultivars. We are currently evaluating these clones with and without supplemental calcium application in large scale field trials in Puno, in collaboration with the Peruvian program for agriculture (INIA) and with local farmers. In 2014-2015, cold tolerant selections are being tested at three locations in Puno to verify their levels of hardiness and productivity.