Hybrid Potato Breeding, Seed Technology and Agronomy

Abstract

This article summarizes the advantages of hybrid diploid breeding of potato, with true potato seed as major propagule. Hybrid diploid breeding accelerates breeding of potato, allowing pyramiding resistance genes and introducing novel genes for maximum quality. The challenge is to compensate for the lack of positive effects of polyploidy by rapid progress in breeding and heterosis. Moreover, the use of true potato seed from such a breeding program makes it possible to produce large numbers of healthy seeds in a very short time that are very small, easy to store and easy to transport to remote areas. If successfully implemented, the use of such a new technology will revolutionize the breeding, seed systems, and seed and ware production systems of potato. Making maximum use of this technology requires identifying the best seed system model for different agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions and optimizing the production systems of seed tubers and ware potatoes based on the seed value chain selected and implemented.

Keywords

• Diploid potato
• hybrid breeding
• seedling tuber
• seed systems
• transplant
• true potato seed

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