Breeding value of backcross progeny of multispecies potato hybrids for major agronomic traits
Abstract
Objective. To assess the breeding value and variabilityof backcross progeny of multispecies potato hybrids formajor agronomic traits and to identify promising genotypesfor further breeding. Methods. Field experiments were conductedin 2025 at the Institute for Potato Research of theNational Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, locatedin the southern Polissia region of Ukraine. The plant materialcomprised 308 backcross genotypes derived from multispeciespotato hybrids. The cultivars ‘Tyras’, ‘Skarbnytsia’,‘Levada’, ‘Yavir’, and ‘Sluch’, representing different maturitygroups, were used as standards. Early yield accumulationwas assessed on days 65–70 after planting by harvestingtwo plants from each genotype. At the main harvest, totalyield, marketability, tuber number per plant, and averagemarketable tuber weight were determined. Starch contentwas estimated from tuber specific gravity using VLK-500potato scales. Results. Contrasting temperature and moistureconditions during the 2025 growing season contributedto substantial differentiation among the backcross genotypes.Forty-eight genotypes exceeded the standard cultivar‘Levada’ in early yield accumulation. The highest values wererecorded for G17.2s12 (92.9s28 / Podolia) – 690.4 g/plantand G16.1s46 (10.6G14 / Santarka) – 636.1 g/plant. At themain harvest, 133 genotypes, representing 43.2 % of theevaluated material, exceeded the standard cultivar ‘Yavir’ intotal yield, while 14.0 % produced more than 1000 g/plant. Anaverage marketable tuber weight above 100 g was recordedfor 12.0 % of the genotypes, whereas 9.5 % formed morethan 20 tubers per plant. A starch content above 18.0 %was detected in 12.7 % of the material, including 2.8 %of the genotypes in which it exceeded 20.0 %. The mostfavourable combination of agronomic traits was observed inG21.4s3, which produced 1550.0 g/plant, with a marketability of 98.9 %, an average marketable tuber weight of 164.3 g,and a starch content of 26.0 %. Genotypes G22.1s116(08.195/73 / G10.10s25), G22.7s4 (G15.7s15 / Yanka),G22.5s39 (Strumok / G15.37s15), and G21.12s7 (83.10/107 /90.684/10) also combined high yield with high marketability,high tuber number, large average tuber weight, or increasedstarch content. Conclusions. The backcross progeny ofmultispecies potato hybrids showed considerable variabilityin yield, its structural components, and starch content. Highproductivity was achieved through a large average tuberweight, a high tuber number, or a favourable combination ofthese traits. The selected genotypes are promising sourcesof early yield accumulation, high total yield, marketability, hightuber number, large average tuber weight, and increasedstarch content. Their inclusion in hybridisation programmesand subsequent multi-year evaluation are recommended todetermine the stability of valuable agronomic traits underdifferent environmental conditions.
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