Revealing the potential of potato varieties with colored pulp in the conditions of the Murmansk region

Abstract

A collection of 15 potato varieties ‘Seyanets Stepana’, ‘Stepan’, ‘Yekzotika’, ‘Fioletik’, ‘Kubinka’, ‘Vasilok’, ‘Lekar’’, ‘Severnoye Siyaniye’, ‘Ametist’, ‘Gurman’, ‘Perlamutrovyy’, ‘Ves siniy’, ‘Ves krasnyy’, ‘Klyukvenno-krasnyy’, ‘Malina’ was studied in the Arctic North. All the studied accessions demonstrated antioxidant properties and suitability for dietetic and therapeutic nutrition. The study was conducted in accordance with the VIR Guidelines. During a three-year study, the studied varieties displayed purple (blue) and red tuber pulp coloration of varying degrees of intensity. Even the varieties with white flesh ‘Kubinka’ (к-25276), ‘Vasilok’ (к-25199) had a slightly colored pulp along the vascular ring. The trait of colored tuber pulp variability is determined at the gene level. Probably, the long Polar day and low air temperatures contributed to the intense biosynthesis of anthocyanins. When studying economically valuable traits in the conditions of the Murmansk region, almost all varieties behaved as late ripening and unsuitable for cultivation for early production. The standard variety ‘Khibinskiy ranniy’ produced an average of 520 g/bush with 76% marketability in the trial dig. By the final harvesting, the standard yields an average of 800 g/bush with 87% marketability. The highest values of early yield accumulation (79-80% of the standard) in the Arctic North were displayed by the varieties ‘Fioletik’ (k-24754) and ‘Severnoye Siyaniye’ (k-25344). High yields at the final harvest were characteristic of the varieties ‘Fioletik’ (k-24754), ‘Gurman’ (vr.k.-p 523), and ‘Perlamutrovyy’ (vr.k.-p 526). In terms of the starch content, the varieties ‘Kubinka’ (19,3%), ‘Yekzotika’ (15,2%), ‘Gurman’ (16,7%) ‘Fioletik’ (14,2%), ‘Lekar’’ (13,2%), ‘Perlamutrovyy’ (14,2%) were distinguished. The high starch content is likely due to meteorological conditions and the genetic characteristics of the varieties. All varieties show signs of late ripening. For cultivation in the Arctic North, the varieties ‘Fioletik’ (к-24754), ‘Severnoye Siyaniye’ (k-25344); ‘Gurman’ (vr.k.-p 523), ‘Perlamutrovyy’ (vr.k.-p 526), and ‘Klyukvenno-krasnyy’ (vr.k.-p 522) can be recommended.