Relation between berry weight, number of seeds per berry and 100-seed weight in potato inflorescences

Abstract

In three potato cultivars, Solanum tuberosum L. ‘Atzimba’, ‘R-128.6’ and ‘Serrana’, the effect of the position of the flower in the inflorescence on berry weight, number of seeds per berry and 100-seed weight was analysed. Mean berry weight, number of seeds per berry and 100-seed weight decreased from proximal to distal flower position, except the 100-seed weight of ‘Serrana’. The relation between berry weight and number of seeds per berry was positive and highly significant. The relationships between 100-seed weight and number of seeds, and between 100-seed weight and berry weight were weak and not consistent for all cultivars. Within and between flower position correlations are illustrated and discussed. In ‘Atzimba’ and ‘R-128.6’, pollination of flowers or harvesting berries from proximal positions only could improve average 100-seed weight.