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Yield Response and Late Blight Reaction of Potato Genotypes in Rwanda

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Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes with relatively high yield level and resistance to the late blight disease are being developed by the International Potato Centre (CIP) and made available to developing countries. However, for effective breeding for high yield and late blight resistance, these CIP materials and locally adapted genotypes need to be evaluated and screened under target growing environmental conditions. The objectives of the study were to determine yield response and late blight resistance of potato genotypes grown in Rwanda and candidate clones obtained from CIP and to identify suitable parents for breeding. A total of 44 potato genotypes, 30 acquired from CIP and 14 local varieties were evaluated under three environments (Kinigi, Rwerere and Nyamagabe). Experiments were laid out in an 11 × 4 alpha lattice design with two replications. Data were collected on late blight severity (%) based on the relative area under the disease progress curve (RAUDPC: 100 % max), total tuber yield, marketable tuber weight and dry matter content. Genotypes had significant differences on blight resistance and yield levels among test locations. Eight genotypes (391,047.34, 393,385.39, 393,280.82, 396,036.201, Gikungu, Ngunda, Kigega and Nderera) were identified as promising parents for subsequent crosses. The selected genotypes display farmers-preferred traits, productive flowers, high to medium late blight resistance and high yields.

Resumen

Los genotipos de papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) con relativamente alto nivel de rendimiento y resistencia a la enfermedad del tizón tardío se han estado desarrollando por el Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP) y se han hecho disponibles a países en desarrollo. No obstante, para un mejoramiento efectivo para alto rendimiento y resistencia al tizón tardío, estos materiales del CIP y genotipos locales adaptados requieren ser evaluados y tamizados bajo condiciones ambientales específicas de crecimiento. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron determinar la respuesta en rendimiento y resistencia al tizón tardío de genotipos de papa cultivados en Rwanda y clones candidatos obtenidos por el CIP, e identificar progenitores deseables para mejoramiento. Se evaluó un total de 44 genotipos de papa, 30 adquiridos del CIP y 14 variedades locales, bajo tres ambientes (Kinigi, Rwerere y Nyamagabe). Se establecieron los experimentos en un diseño de látice alpha 11 × 4 con dos repeticiones. Se colectaron datos en severidad de tizón tardío (%) con base al área relativa bajo la curva de progreso de la enfermedad (RAUDPC: 100 % máx), rendimiento total de tubérculo, peso comercial de tubérculo y el contenido de materia seca. Los genotipos tuvieron diferencias significativas en resistencia al tizón y niveles de rendimiento entre las localidades de prueba. Se identificaron ocho genotipos como progenitores prometedores para cruzas subsecuentes (391,047.34, 393,385.39, 393,280.82, 396,036.201, Gikungu, Ngunda, Kigega y Nderera). Los genotipos seleccionados muestran características preferidas por los agricultores, flores productivas, resistencia alta a media al tizón tardío y altos rendimientos.

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Acknowledgments

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is sincerely thanked for the financial support to initiate this study. The Rwandan Agriculture Board (RAB) is especially thanked for the technical support to conduct the field research.

Declaration

The experiments comply with the current laws of Rwanda.

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Correspondence to Jean Baptiste Muhinyuza.

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Muhinyuza, J.B., Shimelis, H., Melis, R. et al. Yield Response and Late Blight Reaction of Potato Genotypes in Rwanda. Am. J. Potato Res. 92, 10–22 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-014-9406-8

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