A comparison of performance of tetraploid progenies produced by diploid and their vegetatively doubled (tetraploid) counterpart parents

 Two diploid potato parents, W5295.7 and W5337.3, and their colchicine-doubled tetraploids were used as male to cross with three cultivars: ‘Raritan’, ‘Shepody’ and ‘Superior’. Both diploids produced 2n gametes via first division restitution (FDR) during meiosis. Field experiments were carried out on seedlings of the 12 hybrid progenies in 1991 and 1992. Six of the progenies represented the tetraploid-diploid (4x-2x) hybrids and the other six tetraploid-tetraploid (4x-4x) progenies. The genetic consequence of FDR gametes was examined by comparing the mean and genotypic variance of six tuber traits of 4x-2x and 4x-4x progenies. Tuber appearance, eye depth, specific gravity and tuber size showed significant differences between the means of 4x-2x and 4x-4x progenies from either both or one of the diploid parents. The genotypic variances of these traits in 4x-2x progenies were reduced in various degrees from those observed in 4x-4x progenies. Major genes responsible for the inheritance of these traits are probably located close to the centromere. The two diploid parents may also carry alleles of different size and direction of non-additive genic effects in their 2n gametes. The 4x-2x progenies also outperformed the 4x-4x progenies with respect to the means of total and marketable yield. There were thus heterotic gene loci for high yield located close to the centromere. No marked reduction of genotypic variance, however, was observed. The results suggest that genes for yield would be scattered between the centromere and the site for maximum recombination. Received: 24 April 1996 / Accepted: 26 July 1996