Artificial light as an aid in potato breeding

Conclusions

The application of artificial lights to potato plants in the greenhouse stimulated vine growth and blossoming to a remarkable degree. There was a high correlation between the naturally fertilized seed-setting record of the seedlings in the field at Presque Isle, and the extent of blossoming in the greenhouse under the lights. There was little difference in the effects of the 1000 watt and 500 watt lights. Smaller lights than these might produce the desired results.

The application of artificial lights facilitated the production of good cytological material. No naturally fertilized seed was produced.

Inbred seed was readily obtained under the lights by hand pollinating self-fertile plants. Seed balls, but no seed, were produced as the result of an attempted cross between two varieties, one of which had n = 12 chromosomes, the other n = 24.