ARS | Publication request: Potato germplasm enhancement

Submitted to: Proceedings Wisconsin Annual Potato Meetings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 17, 2011
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Citation: Jansky, S.H., Hamernik, A.J. 2011. Potato germplasm enhancement [abstract]. Proceedings Wisconsin Annual Potato Meetings.

Technical Abstract: The Madison USDA-ARS Germplasm Enhancement Program focuses on the development of parents for breeding programs by putting novel valuable traits into adapted, fertile germplasm. The first germplasm release from this program is five clones with resistance to cold sweetening. These clones are named M1-M5 and are available to breeding programs to improve chip quality following low temperature storage. Clone M7 is being considered as a germplasm release. It is highly fertile and crosses readily to cultivars and breeding lines. It resulted from a cross between a cultivated clone and the wild species S. infundibuliforme. The russet gene pool is narrow and this clone provides a new source of genetic diversity for long russets. M7 has long smooth tubers and is high-yielding. It is not resistant to Verticillium wilt or early blight, but preliminary data indicate that it possesses resistance to common scab and soft rot. Progeny tests in 2010 revealed that it produces a large proportion of long and russet offspring. Additional progeny tests will be carried out in 2011. Clone M8 was identified during a genetic study of early blight resistance. It was derived from a cross between a cultivated clone and the wild species S. berthaultii. This clone provides a new source of genetic diversity for the round red gene pool. M8 has smooth skin and is resistant to early blight but has not yet been extensively evaluated for other traits.