Evaluation of flowering characteristics in Indian potato varieties

Some important flowering attributes for achieveing of hybridization, i.e. appearance, duration and intensity of flowering together with quantity of pollen production, fertility and formation of self berries were studied in a set of 32 Indian and 4 exotic potato varieties at Kufri (Himachal Pradesh). The varieties showed considerable variation for the above traits, where appearance of flowering ranged between 6.17 to 11 weeks after planting and flowering duration between 1 to 8 weeks. Flowering intensity varied from shy to profuse flowering, while pollen production ranged from very low to very high. Pollen stainability, a measure of pollen fertility ranged from 2.56 to 82.6% and production of self berries from nil to 24.81%. In general, early maturing varieties bloomed earlier and exhibited low pollen fertility, while blooming was comparatively late in varieties having Solanum andigena in the pedigree. Flowering duration, intensity and pollen production were not affected by either maturity or pedigree of the variety. Based on the flowering attributes, the present investigation indicated that cvs. Kufri Chamatkar, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Kumar, Kufri Safed and Kufri Muthu, should be best utilized as females, while cv. Kufri Sherpa be best utilized as male only. The varieties having Solanum andigena in their pedigree alongwith cv. Kufri Chipsona-1, on the other hand should be used both as male or female in the hybridization.