Agronomic performance of potato germplasm selected for high resistance to Verticillium wilt

A three-year study was conducted from 1991 through 1993 to evaluate the field performance of potato clones that had been selected for resistance to wilt symptom development and stem colonization by Verticillium dahliae. The total yield, size distribution, and specific-gravity of these highly resistant clones were compared with standard cultivars and two parent clones with high Verticillium resistance and high yield, A66107-51 and A668113-4. Two groups of Verticillium resistant germplasm were selected in 1991. One group was the highly resistant progeny from a cross between A66107- 51 and A68113-4. The second group consisted of hybrids between wild species accessions with high Verticillium resistance and cultivated diploid and tetraploid germplasm. Twenty-one out of 125 progeny clones from the A66107- 51 x A68113-4 cross were highly resistant to Verticillium infection and were tested in yield trials for two years. Another eight selections had high Verticillium resistance but such low yield of seed tubers that they were tested only one year for yield. Eleven of the original 29 highly resistant selections were significantly lower in total yield than Russet Burbank. Only one clone was significantly higher in yield than RB, and none outyielded either of the resistant parents. Reddale and Century Russet had moderate to high Verticillium resistance, respectively. Both outyielded Russet Burbank and were comparable with the high yielding resistant parents. Of 15 interspecific hybrids tested in 1991, only four had sufficient yield to produce seed for yield trials and good wilt resistance after three successive seasons of evaluation. We concluded from this study that selecting at early stages of variety development strictly for Verticillium resistance is likely to be inefficient. Rather, selection should be for yield and other agronomic criteria in Verticillium infested fields.