Abstract
In order to evaluate the environmental effect on plant development and mini-tuber production of a diverse group of potato genotypes grown under an aeroponic system, a G × E interaction experiment was carried out in greenhouses located at CIP’s experimental stations in La Molina (Lima) and Huancayo (Junín). Five contrasting environments were set-up and evaluated. A combined Analysis of Variance was performed for the variables “days to tuber set”, “days to senescence” and “plant height”. An Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) Analysis was performed for yield variables: mini-tuber “weight” and “number of mini-tubers” per plant. There was a high variation in all the responses to the treatments. “Days to tuber set” was influenced by genetic responses, temperature and greenhouse Photosynthetically Active Radiation intensity. Considerable increases in the length of the vegetative cycle and plant height were recorded for all genotypes, and these were particularly notable in the warmer coastal environments. AMMI analysis showed that yield variables were primarily influenced by the genotypic effect followed by the genotype by environment interaction effect. The Venturana variety (T2) was the best performing genotype with a total average mini-tuber “weight” of 644 g per plant while the Chucmarina variety (T1) performed best for the variable “number of mini-tubers” with an overall average of 60.2 mini-tubers per plant. Both showed stability across different environments for these variables. The advanced clones T3 (395434.1), T5 (397077.16) and T6 (397073.16) showed stability for yield variables, but their performance was below the overall average of the trial. It is recommended that the environment and management should ideally be tailored to the genotype as this will result in significant yield gains.
Highlights
Potato is a vegetatively propagated crop conserving varietal characteristics during successive generations [1]
The first axis of the analysis of interaction components (PCA1) explained or captured 63.6% of the sum of squares of the interaction, and the second axis (PCA2) 22.8%. These results show that the effect of the G × E
Captures 58.1% of the sum of squares of the interaction, and the second axis (PC2) 31.4%. These results show that the effect of the G × E interaction for “number of mini-tuber” per plant was explained
Summary
Potato is a vegetatively propagated crop conserving varietal characteristics during successive generations [1]. This is advantageous in a genetic improvement program, but it has the disadvantage that seed tubers can favor the dissemination of diseases if quality control is not systematically monitored in a production program. Potato tuber seed production schemes consist of three phases: (i) in vitro multiplication under laboratory conditions; (ii) pre-basic mini-tuber production under screen or greenhouse conditions; and (iii) basic seed tuber production under open-field conditions. Screen- or greenhouse production of mini-tubers is commonly done by conventional methods that rely on solid substrates (basically peat and soil), with the inherent risk of infection from soil borne diseases and need for sterilization. Conventional substrate-based methods for pre-basic mini-tuber seed production frequently show low productivity. According to Daniels et al [3], the average multiplication rate is 3–5 mini-tubers per plant, which contributes to raising the production costs of a seed potato production program
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