Potato Journal
  • Year: 1985
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 1 & 2

Comparative group study of combining ability for different traits in the potato*

  • Author:
  • T. R. Dayal, S. N. Chaturvedi1, M. D. Upadhya2
  • Total Page Count: 12
  • Page Number: 31 to 42

1Department of Botany, R.B.S College, Agra University, Agra-282002.

2Region IV (South Asia), International Potato Centre, NBPGR, IARI Campus, New Delhi-110012.

*Adapted from a thesis submitted and approved for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Agra University, Agra.

Abstract

A comparative study for general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities was conducted on 18 male and female parents and on 72 intra- and inter-group crosses of Andigena (A), Tuberosum (T), induced meiotic tetraploid (MT) and auto-teraploid (Auto T) groups of potato. Hybrid material for evaluation was developed through a line × tester breeding program. Data were recorded on nine characters in two trials: one with F1 seedlings and the other with P1 C1 clones of parents and Crosses. Both trials were designed as a randomized block, replicated three times, under the hill conditions at Kufri (India) in the 1979–1980 crop season.

Contrasting differences were observed for GCA and SCA values in the F1 seedlings F1 C1 tuber generations of different parents and crosses of inter-group T×A, A×T, MT×T, MT×A, Auto T×A, AutoT×T, and intra-group T×T and A×A matings. Reciprocal differences were also observed for SCA estimates between inter-group T×T and A×T, matings for fresh weight of top, total tuber yield, number of tubers per plant, height of main shoot, average tuber weight, and harvest index.

Morphological characters such as height of main shoot and number of leaves on main shoot were influenced by females of meiotic tetraploids and by both males and females of Andigena. The fresh weight of top and total tuber yield per plant were influenced by males and females of both Andigena and Tuberosum; the number of tubers per plant by males and females of Andigena: the average tuber weight and harvest index by both males and females of Tuberosum; and the 1000-TPS-weight by males and females of autotetraploid and Tuberosum groups.

Both additive and nonadditive complementary type of gene actions appeared to control different traits in F1 seedling and F1C1 clonal generations. This report on fresh weight of top per plant, harvest index in both generations, and 1000-TPS-weight in F1 seedling generation presents new findings on the potato with respect to GCA and SCA estimates.