A SEED SELECTION SYSTEM FOR VIGOROUS TRUE POTATO SEEDS

Abstract

In developing countries, the use of True Potato Seed (TPS) technology offers some potential economic and biological advantages compared to using seed tubers. One problem with using TPS technology is the lack of seedling vigor, poor germination and non-uniformity of seedlings derived from TPS. Open-pollinated true seeds were divided into three classes based on differences in embryo morphology. Highly significant differences were observed among these seed classes for 100-seed weights, percent germination, rate of germination, 10-seedling weights and percent seedlings with leaves unfurled, ten days after sowing. Seed classes were quantified in terms of 100-seed weight with Seed class 1 having the lowest weight and Seed class 3 the highest; A significantly high r value (0.99) was obtained between seed classes and 10-seedling weight. High r values (0.93) and (0.94) were also obtained between seed classes and percent germination and percent seedlings with unfurled leaves, respectively. Results indicate that it may be possible to use these differences on embryo morphology as a basis for selecting vigorous true potato seeds.