Tuber yields and specific gravities inSolanum tuberosum populations recurrently selected for resistance to potato leafhopper

Solanum tuberosum genotypes from the 3rd, 5th, and 7th generations of recurrent selection for resistance to potato leafhopper were compared with genotypes from the base, unselected population for tuber yield and specific gravity over a five year period. Mean tuber yields of the genotypes in the 3rd and 5th generations were equal to the yield of those in the base population. The mean tuber yield in the 7th generation was significantly lower than the mean in the base population and the means in the other selection generations. However, the mean tuber specific gravities of the 5th and 7th generation genotypes were slightly higher than the mean in the base population. The variability of tuber yield among genotypes in the 7th selection generation was lower than the variability in the base population and in the 3rd and 5th selection generations. It was concluded that there was moderate genetic potential for selecting genotypes with resistance to potato leafhopper that had acceptable tuber yields in the 3rd and 5th selection generations, but by the 7th generation the potential was considerably lower. The genetic potential for selecting resistant genotypes with acceptable tuber specific gravities remained about the same in each of the selection generations.