Breeding potato for combined resistance to late blight and potato cyst nematodes in Nilgiris

Crosses were made during 1991 to 1995 at Ootacamund involving selected parental lines having late blight and potato cyst nematodes resistance. Segregating populations were screened for resistance to late blight under natural field conditions. The selected clones were also screened in glass house for resistance to both species of potato cyst nematodes. Further, rigorous glass house and field testing of the hybrids led to selection of 20 promising hybrids having combined resistance to late blight and potato cyst nematodes with acceptable yield and agronomic attributes. Two hybrids from the above selections viz., OS/93-D-204 and OS/95-K-6 have been initiated under adaptive research trial at Nilgiris.