Acaphu: A tetraploid,fertile breeding line,selected from anS. acaule ×S. phureja cross

An artificial, fertile breeding line was obtained by crossingS. acaule, Bitter toS. phureja Juz et Buk. It has 2n = 48 chromosomes and was formed by fertilization ofS. acaule eggs (n = 24) andS. phureja pollen grains (2n = 24). It possesses valuable characters ofS. acaule andS. phureja combined, and is highly male and female fertile, producing abundant seed by selfing or by crossing to tetraploid, cultivated potato clones. Since it is tetraploid and easy to cross, it is expected to be more efficient for transferring valuable genes fromS. acaule to cultivars than the natural, well known, hybridogenic speciesS. ×juzepczukii (2n = 36) and S. ×curtilobum (2n = 60).     

Enhanced production of dihaploid lines via anther culture of tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L. ssp.tuberosum) clones

A total of 1000 anther-derived plants was regenerated from tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes. Capacity to undergo androgenesis was analysed in 41 potato cultivars and 7 clones grown either in the greenhouse or in the field. Of the 48 genotypes, 33 produced embryos and 23 regenerated shoots from embryos. Anther-derived plantlet production was determined in genotypes 86110, Agria, Calgary, Escort, Helios, Idole, JO 0982 JO 1432, Kainuun Musta, Kardal, KE48, Matilda, Nicola, Petra, Pito, Rustica, Stirling, Torridon, Ute, Van Gogh, Vebeca, Vento and White Lady. The highest number of shoots (24 shoots/100 anthers) was obtained from cv. Calgary, when anthers were isolated from field-grown donor plants. Incubating anthers at 28 C, rather than at 20 C or 24 C, enhanced embryo production in four genotypes tested. However, shoot production was improved only in cv. Pito cultured at 28 C. When anthers of cv. Petra were cultured at 28 C for four weeks, followed by reduction of culture temperature to 24 C, a high rate of shoot production was recorded (14 shoots/100 anthers). The ratio between dihaploids and tetraploids varied among the anther-derived plants of the different genotypes. The number of dihaploids was highest in potato clone JO1432 (100%) and in cv. Calgary (93%) and lowest in cvs. Pito (21%) and Torridon (6%).     

Triploids of the common potato,Solanum tuberosum L.

Summary Triploid plants of the common potato (Solanum tuberosum L. group Tuberosum) were derived from crosses between tetraploid varieties and selected dihaploids. The ability to induce triploidy seems to be largely dependent on the genotype of the dihaploid parent. Morphologically there was very little difference between triploids and their tetraploid siblings. Yields of triploids could be equivalent to genetically similar tetraploids.     

Changes in the surface morphology of starch granules of the cultivated potato,Solanum tuberosum L. during storage

Summary Low temperature sweetening is a major problem to chip and crisp manufacturers as it results in the production of unacceptably dark fry products. Cryo-electron microscopy was used to examine the changes which occur to the surface morphology of starch granules from tubers of cultivars Record and Brodick stored at 4°C and 10°C. At harvest, the surface of the starch granules was smooth but during storage the surface of the granules became progressívely more pitted. The feasibility of using this technique to determine whether increased starch breakdown occurs at low storage temperatures is discussed. Deceased.     

The processing potential of tubers of the cultivated potato,Solanum tuberosum L., after storage at low temperatures. 2. Sugar concentration

Summary Several clones from a potato breeding programme at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) produced acceptable (pale) coloured fry products after five months' storage at 4°C. Chemical analysis of tuber samples taken at five-week intervals during storage at 4°C and 10°C gave a substantial variation in glucose, fructose and sucrose concentrations among the 22 clones examined. Several unnamed SCRI clones showed little accumulation of reducing sugars when stored at 4°C. In marked contrast, the cultivars Record and Pentland Dell, currently the most widely used cultivars for fry processing in the UK, accumulated far greater levels of sugar during low temperature storage. Glucose concentration proved more important than fructose concentration in determining fry colour. Clones with the lowest concentrations of glucose after storage at 4°C also showed lowest concentrations when stored at 10°C. These results are in agreement with previous reports on the predictive value of glucose levels at harvest, but this is the first identification of such low temperature, low sweetening variants in agronomically adapted clones of the cultivated tetraploid potato.     

Response of two potato clones (S. tuberosum L.) to contrasting temperature regimes in the field

Two potato clones (S. tuberosum L.) were grown in the field under contrasting temperature regimes during the crop cycle. Differential growth and yield was observed in the clones studied. Differences in yield were due to the decreased proportion of tubers larger than 3.5 cm in length as well as to the differences in dry weight and percent of dry matter in tubers. Yield reductions per plant were 52 and 94% for Alfa and Herta, respectively, in the warmer regime compared with the cooler regime. Apparent photosynthesis rates measured in Herta were maximum (45 umol.m^?2.s^?1) during tuber filling. Stomatal resistance and apparent photosynthesis rate were reduced by high temperature, indicating mesophyllic inhibition of photosynthesis. Dark respiration was promoted by moderately high temperature and differed significantly between clones, with Herta showing the higher rates.     

Identification of potato (solarium tuberosum L.) haploid x wild species hybrids with the capacity to cold-chip

Cold sweetening, the accumulation of reducing sugars in potatoes stored at low temperatures, results in dark chips unacceptable to the consumer. Developing potato cultivars that can chip directly from cooler temperatures (i.e., 3 to 4 C) requires the identification and use of new germplasm with cold-chipping resistance. Individuals from 16 haploid x wild species hybrid families were grown at two sites and their harvested tubers stored at 3 C for 15 wk. Following storage, individuals were evaluated for cold-chipping ability by (1) direct chipping, and (2) reconditioning for 2 wk at 18 C prior to chipping. At both sites, approximately 1% of progeny had good chip color (<2.0 rating using the Snack Food Association scale). Germplasm representing haploid x wild species hybrid families was evaluated for cold-chipping ability following storage of tubers at 3 C for 15 wk, and after storage at 18 C for 2 wk. The two cold-chipping clones identified with chip color means <2.0 were AH 66-1 and H 28-6, hybrids derived fromS. raphanifolium accessions 296126 and 310998, respectively.S. raphanifolium PI 296126 was exceptional in that chip color means of its progeny were 2.5 and 2.7 at McLeod (North Dakota) and Crookston (Minnesota), respectively. All clones with chip color means <2.6 involvedS. raphanifolium PIs 296126, 310998, and 458384 in their parentage. Following reconditioning, the number of progeny in the good and medium chipping categories improved from direct chipping with 14.1% of the progeny at McLeod and 3.8% at Crookston in the good chipping category.S. raphanifolium PIs 210048 and 310998 together accounted for 100% and 50% of the clones with chip scores <2.0 at McLeod and Crookston, respectively. Clones ranking high for chip color following direct chipping generally chipped well following reconditioning.     

The processing potential of tubers of the cultivated potato,Solanum tuberosum L., after storage at low temperature. 1. Fry colour

Summary Routine fry tests of material from the potato breeding programme at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) detected clones which gave superior (paler coloured) crisps than the control cultivar Record, after storage at low temperatures (4°C). Thirteen of these clones and nine cultivars were fry tested at intervals after storage at 4°C and 10°C. The ability of these clones to produce an acceptable fry product direct from storage at low temperature and their superiority in this respect over existing cultivars was confirmed. Some clones examined produced an acceptable fry colour even after 30 weeks' storage at 4°C.     

Transfer of PLRV resistance fromSolanum verrucosum Schlechdt to potato (S. tuberosum L.) by protoplast electrofusion

Summary Somatic fusions between an accession of the diploid wild speciesSolanum verrucosum and a dihaploid S.tuberosum genotype were produced in order to incorporate resistance to potato leafroll virus (PLRV). In total 15 somatic hybrids out of 16 regenerants were obtained. Identification of hybrids was based on additive RAPD patterns, general morphological characteristics, chromosome numbers and chloroplast counts in stomata guard cells. A field trial was performed with the hybrids, their two parents and the control cultivar Kennebec to assess field performance and phenotypic variability. Yield parameters varied considerably among somatic hybrids. Some of the hybrids gave significantly higher yields, tuber numbers and tuber weights than both parents. Pollen fertility of hybrids ranged from 19 to 77%. Twelve hybrids were found to be resistant to PLRV.     

Resistance to Columbia root-knot nematode inSolanum ssp. and in hybrids ofS. hougasii with tetraploid cultivated potato

Several tuber-bearingSolanum species were screened for resistance to races 1 and 2 of Columbia root-knot nematode,Meloidogyne chitwoodi. Reproductive factor (R_f = P_f/P_i) was assessed and used to infer host resistance. Several clonal selections in one Plant Introduction accession ofSolanum hougasii showed high levels of resistance to both races. Crosses ofS. hougasii with tetraploid breeding clones yielded 14 vigorous F₁ hybrids. Three of these interspecific hybrids expressed non-host (R_f<0.1) responses to race 1 and poor host (0.1f<1.0) responses to race 2. Six hybrids were nonhosts to race 1 but good hosts (R_f>1.0) to race 2. Three hybrids were good hosts to both races, and one was a poor host to race 1 and non-host to race 2. The occurrence of resistance to both races in the F₁ hybrids indicates success in the first step of introducing resistance to races 1 and 2 ofM. chitwoodi to the cultivated potato gene pool.     

The effect of storage temperature on reducing sugar concentration and the activities of three amylolytic enzymes in tubers of the cultivated potato,Solanum tuberosum L.

Summary Reducing sugar content, and activities of three starch hydrolysing enzymes, alpha-amylase, beta-amylase and debranching enzyme were measured over several months in tubers of five cultivars stored at 4°C or 10°C. Cultivars differed in their sensitivity to storage temperature. Reducing sugar content of tubers and the activities of three starch hydrolysing enzymes increased sharply during the first weeks of storage at 4°C. At 10°C, reducing sugar content, and the activity of the three enzymes remained constant or increased only slightly. Deceased.     

Production of chips from potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) with high sugar content using lactic acid fermentation

Summary Tubers of twelve cultivars ofSolanum tuberosum L., with a varying content of reducing sugars (0.49–2.30 g/100 g fresh weight), were sliced and fermented for up to 48 h by lactic acid bacteria in a brine of 1.5% NaCl, prior to frying. The content of reducing sugars decreased by 80 to 100%, depending on the initial sugar level. Colour of chips was measured using the CIE (1976) L^*a^*b^* colour system, where L^* is lightness, a^* is redness and b^* is yellowness of the material and by IBVL colour cards, photographs used for grading the colour of potato chips. L^*-values were the best measurement of chip colour. The scale of the IBVL colour cards was too narrow (scale 1–9) for this study, as chips from eight of the cultivars were scored lighter than IBVL 9 after 48 h of fermentation. Lighter coloured chips significantly correlated with lower contents of reducing sugars. The sugar content decreased as fermentation time increased. Fermentation time can thus be used to control potato chip colour, and all the cultivars tested can be used for production of chips with regard to colour.     

Assessing the resistance to gangrene of progenies of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) from parents differing in susceptibility

Summary The resistance to gangrene (caused byPhoma exigua var.foveata) of progenies from two hybridisation schedules involving cultivars resistant, susceptible, or of intermediate reaction to gangrene was assessed. Two methods of sampling tubers from field-grown single-plant plots of 18 clones representing each progeny were used: one tuber was taken from each plant, and a bulk sample of 18 tubers was selected at random from the whole progeny. Gangrene resistance was assessed after incubating tubers which had been rolled in cornmeal-sand inoculum ofP. exigua var.foveata, and was expressed as a percentage of tubers infected. Results from the two methods of sampling correlated closely, and agreed well with tests in a subsequent year on 10-tuber samples of each individual clone. It is concluded that an 18-clone sample adequately represented each progeny, and that the mid-parent gangrene score satisfactorily predicted the resistance of the resulting progeny. There are indications that susceptibility tended to be dominant. The implication of these findings to breeding for resistance to gangrene is discussed.     

Development, growth and chemical composition of the potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.). I. leaf and stem

Summary In this first part of a review the development of the potato leaf and stem is described, based on research data and literature. The development over time, the daily changes of fresh and dry matter, the contents of organic and inorganic components (dry matter, starch, sugars, organic acids, ascorbic acid, nitrogenous compounds, nitrate, glycoalkaloids, chlorophyll, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, trace elements), and physiological parameters (rate of assimilation and photosynthesis, activity of enzymes) of the leaf and stem are described and discussed for every phenological growth stage of the potato crop.     

Variation for the degree of susceptibility to the potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) withinSolanum tuberosum ssp.tuberosum

Potato Research - Many cultivars of theSolanum tuberosum ssp.tuberosum group were investigated in a number of studies for their susceptibility toGlobodera pallida. Phenotypic and genotypic...     

Development, growth and chemical composition of the potato crop (solanum tuberosum L.). II. Tuber and whole plant

Summary This second paper of the review describes the development of the potato tuber and whole plant based on research data and literature. The development and growth, daily changes of fresh and dry matter, and of the contents of organic and inorganic components (dry matter, starch, sugars, organic acids, ascorbic acid, nitrogenous compounds, nitrate, crude lipid, glycoalkaloids, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na), discolouration indices, and physiological parameters (rate of assimilation and respiration, activity of enzymes) are reviewed.     

Resistance to soft rot (Erwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica) in tetraploid potato families obtained from 4x-2x crosses

Diploid potato clones, interspecific hybrids ofSolanum species, having in their originS. tuberosum,S. chacoense, S. yungasense, S. phureja, S. gourlayi, andS. demissum, with resistance to soft rot, were crossed to tetraploid potato clones in 4x-2x crosses. The 24 tetraploid families obtained in a North Carolina II design were examined for tuber resistance to soft rot in a laboratory test and for basic agronomic traits in field trials conducted for two consecutive years. In addition, one family originating from a 4x-2x cross of two susceptible parents was tested. Statistical analysis of the data revealed significant general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects, year, GCA (female) × year, GCA (male) × year, and SCA × year upon the inheritance of resistance to soft rot. About 35% of the progeny was selected as resistant to tuber soft rot, and of these 11% showed high resistance combined with good tuber yield, tuber weight, and tuber appearance. The relationships between resistance to soft rot and chosen agronomic traits were not noted or were weakly significant and sporadic. The resistance to tuber soft rot found in diploid potato hybrids can be transferred to the cultivated tetraploid pool through 4x-2x crosses, and a high frequency of offspring posses resistance.     

Cell wall mediated bulkiness as related to the texture of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber tissue

Summary Potato tuber bulkiness was studied in an attempt to elucidate the role of the cell wall (CW) in the tissue texture. The volume of the tissue homogenate was measured before and after enzymatic degradation of insoluble pectic substances (PS) and cellulose. Enzymatic removal of PS resulted in disappearance of the middle lamella ultrastructure, leading to a slight volumetric reduction at most, and both were retained the inner CW and the starch grains in the lumen. Enzymatic degradation of cellulose resulted in the loss of the CW ultrastructure and of the homogenate bulkiness; starch and protoplasmic residues precipitated separately. Among the neutral sugars, starch-glucose was the predominant one (ca. 15% of the fresh weight), and the others were cellulose-glucose, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose and galactose. The microfibrillar lattice of the cellulose glucan provided the tissue bulkiness and texture. Other factors such as pectin and starch may affect texture through interactions with the microfibrillar lattice of cellulose. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 1518-E, 1985 series.