EVALUATION OF EXOTIC POTATO GERMPLASM ON YIELD AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING CHARACTERS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted with 12 exotic potato germplasm viz. Atlantic, Atlas, Aziba, Billini, Croste, Daifla, Daise, Delaware, Quincy, Sagita, Sassy, Spunta with Diamant as check at Breeder Seed Production Center, Debigonj, Panchagorh, during December 21, 2006 to March 28, 2007 to determine their suitability as a variety in Bangladesh. All the varieties gave more than 90% emergence at 20-35 DAP (Days after Planting). Tallest (87.8 cm) plant height was recorded in Quincy and the shortest (57.0 cm) was from Atlas and the minimum (2.0) was obtained from Daifla. Maximum (7.2) stem number per hill was counted in Diamant followed by Delaware. Although there was significant variation among the varieties on foliage coverage but all showed more than 90% foliage coverage at 60 DAP and 100% foliage coverage was shown by Daifla, Aziba and Sagita. Significant variation in stem (plant) diameter among the varieties were evident. Maximum (5.9 cm) plant diameter was recorded from Atlas and the minimum (2 .6 cm) was from Diamant. Number of tuber per plant ranged from 6.5 to 14.1 with the minimum and the maximum by Croste and Delaware, respectively. Significantly the highest yield (44.5 t/ha) was found in Aziba and the lowest (32.29 t/ha) was obtained from Sassy. Irrespective of varieties, all produced maximum percent of seed tuber (grade) both by number and by weight. All the varieties showed late blight infection even after receiving two times fungicidal spray. All the varieties were free from PLRV (Potato Leaf Roll Virus) infection except Atlantic, Atlas, Spunta and Diamant. Regarding PVY (Potato Virus Y), varieties showed trace infection which ranged from 0.33-2.33%. Five varieties (Croste, Daifla, Quincy, Sassy and Diamant) were free from PVY. Varieties contained more than i0% dry matter were Atlas, Croste, Daise, Sagita, Sassy and Diamant.