Performance of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties Using True Potato Seed (TPS) at Gerado, Northeastern Ethiopia

Hassen Yassin Mossa

doi:10.7176/jnsr/9-22-02

Abstract

Potato is one of economically important crop in Ethiopia. However, the average yield is far below the potential due to many challenges like lack of improved variety and quality seed potatoes. True potato seed is alternative seed source for potato production with many advantages, particularly where seed tubers is hampered by diseases. TPS used in Ethiopia, is negligible but it is likely to gain thrust in future particularly where quality seed tubers are either not available or expensive. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the performance of potato varieties established by open-pollinated TPS seedling for yield and yield components. Eight potato varieties (Local, Bulle, Challa, Dagim, Gudanie, Jalenie, Shonkolla and Zengena) were established by open-pollinated TPS seedling for yield and yield components. The experiment laid in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results revealed that a significant variation in most traits was observed. The highest plant height (118.87cm) was recorded from Zengena. Bulle scored the highest marketable, unmarketable, total tuber number and marketable tuber yield per hill was 25.31, 26.03, 51.34 and 1.1117kg respectively. Local scored the highest tuber weight (1.2949 kg hill -1 ) and tuber yield (54.44 ton ha -1 ) but not significant different with Bulle, Gudanie, Dagim and Challa varieties due to its highest unmarketable tuber yield (0.3296 kg hill -1 ). The result of the study reviled that the open-pollinated potato varieties established through TPS have a great influence on yield and yield components of potato. Bulle variety has been recommended in all yield and yield components than others. Keywords : Potato, variety, Tuber number, Tuber yield, Tuber weight, True Potato Seed (TPS) DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-22-02 Publication date: November 30 th 2019

Highlights

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the most important vegetable crops of Solanacea family in the world (Abubaker et al, 2011)
The low acreage and yield of potato in Ethiopia are attributed to many factors, such as lack of improved crop variety to specific environment and high-quality seed potatoes, degenerative diseases associated with the tuber, inappropriate agronomic practices, late blight and absence of proper pest management practices, unavailability of proper transport, storage and marketing facilities are the prominent ones (Tekalign and Hammes, 2005; Kefelegn, et al, 2012)
The growth and yield parameters studied in this paper indicated that varieties had significant differences in plant height, marketable tuber number per hill, unmarketable tuber number per hill, total tuber number per hill, marketable tuber weight, unmarketable tuber weight, total tuber weight and tuber yield.This justifies that different varieties had different genetic potential for yield and yield components

Summary

Introduction

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the most important vegetable crops of Solanacea family in the world (Abubaker et al, 2011). Potato is grown in worldwide especially in temperate climate though the production increases rapidly in tropics. Potato is regarded as a high-potential food security crop because the crop produces large quantities of dietary energy (30-35 t ha-1 starch based produce within 3 to 4 months) and has relatively stable yields under conditions in which other crops may fall (Gebremedhin et al, 2008; FAO, 2010). In Ethiopia, potato is one among the most economically important crops as a source of food and cash in the country (Adane et al, 2010). The current area cropped with potato (about 160,000 ha) is small and the average yield (less than 10 tons ha-1) which is far below the potential of the crop (Adane et al, 2010). The low acreage and yield of potato in Ethiopia are attributed to many factors, such as lack of improved crop variety to specific environment and high-quality seed potatoes, degenerative diseases associated with the tuber, inappropriate agronomic practices, late blight and absence of proper pest management practices, unavailability of proper transport, storage and marketing facilities are the prominent ones (Tekalign and Hammes, 2005; Kefelegn, et al, 2012)

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Discussion

Conclusion