Effect of environment and direction of hybridization on genetic variability in two diploid potato populations

Summary

Twelve selections from each of theSolanum tuberosum Groups haploid Tuberosum and Phureja were intercrossed in a NC Design II pattern to generate reciprocal hybrids. Yield parameters, combining ability and variance components were estimated from field experiments conducted at three locations, one in Minnesota and two in Morocco. Heterosis for yield and tuber number was significant at all locations, but only in Tuberosum cytoplasm. Estimates of general combining ability (GCA) for Tuberosum parents and specific combining ability (SCA) for Tuberosum-Phureja combinations varied with location and direction of hybridization. GCA of Phreja parents, however, was consistently significant at all locations and in both cytoplasms. Genetic variance estimates revealed predominantly non-additive gene action for most traits. Environment and direction of hybridization significantly influenced estimates, of variance components, indicating that hybrid performance should be evaluated in both cytoplasms and in the target environments for effective utilization of this germplasm in future breeding efforts.