WP CARLO CARLI - Home - International Potato Centercipotato.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/004286.pdf · ISBN 978-92-9060-351-1 Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Division

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Recent advances in potato researchand development in Central Asia andthe Caucasus

Carlo Carli, Editor

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Recent advances in potato researchand development in Central Asia and

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© International Potato Center (CIP), 2008

ISBN 978-92-9060-351-1

CIP publications contribute important development information to thepublic arena. Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce materialfrom them in their own publications. As copyright holder CIP requestsacknowledgement, and a copy of the publication where the citationor material appears. Please send a copy to the Communication andPublic Awareness Department at the address below.

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Produced by the CIP Communication and PublicAwareness Department (CPAD)

Production CoordinatorCecilia Lafosse

Design and LayoutElena Taipe and contributions from Graphic Arts

April 2008

Recent advances in potato researchand development in Central Asia andthe Caucasus

C I P • G E R M P L A S M E N H A N C E M E N T A N D C R O P I M P R O V E M E N T D I V I S I O N W O R K I N G P A P E R 2 0 0 8 - 1

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Table of contents Recent advances in potato research & development in Central Asia and the Caucasus.............................................1 Preface........................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Brief Overview .........................................................................................................................................................................................1 Agricultural Production Systems......................................................................................................................................................3 Trends in the potato sector ................................................................................................................................................................3 Bibliographic References.....................................................................................................................................................................8 In-vitro multiplication and production of minitubers of CIP advanced virus-resistant clones in Uzbekistan. ....9 Abstract......................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................9 Materials & methods .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Results ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Conclusions and discussion ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 Bibliographic References.................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Multiplication and first screening of advanced virus-resistant clones for multilocation trials in Uzbekistan... 17 Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Materials & methods .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Results ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Conclusions and discussion ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 Bibliographic References.................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Study and multiplication of advanced virus-resistant potato clones for multilocation trials in Tajikistan........ 26 Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Materials & methods .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Results ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Discussion and Future Plans ........................................................................................................................................................... 29 Bibliographic References.................................................................................................................................................................. 32 The Regional Potato Clonal Selection conducted in the Highlands of Tajikistan for the benefit of smallholders of Central Asia and the Caucasus region.................................................................................................................................... 33 Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Materials & methods .......................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Results ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 Conclusions and discussion ............................................................................................................................................................ 37 Bibliographic References.................................................................................................................................................................. 37 Evaluation of CIP advanced clones, late blight (Phytophthora infestans) resistant, in Georgia (Caucasus)...... 49 Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Materials & methods .......................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Results ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Conclusions and discussion ............................................................................................................................................................ 53


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R E C E N T A D V A N C E S I N P O T A T O R E S E A R C H A N D D E V E L O P M E N T 1

Recent advances in potato research and development in Central Asia and the Caucasus

Preface This document was prepared by the Potato Seed Production Specialist, based at the CIP-Liaison

Office of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and his partners in the CAC (Central Asia and Caucasus) region. In

January 2005, CIP posted an International Research staff in the CGIAR Consortium led by ICARDA

to take part in the “Collaborative Program for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Central

Asia and the Caucasus”, which started operating in 1998. Currently, 9 CGIAR Centers1 and three

other International Research Organizations, such as ICBA, AVRDC and MSU, are members of the

Consortium.

To address research needs formulated by partner Institutions and describe research activities

conducted in the region, this document consists of a short description of agriculture and

potato status in the CAC region followed by a series of working papers that have been

prepared in 2006-7. The objective is to increase awareness on potato research conducted in the

region that represents a new acquisition for CIP. In this region, potato has the potential to

contribute to poverty reduction since it is mostly grown by small holder farmers who are among

the poorest groups in CAC.

Brief Overview

The Central Asia and the Caucasus region is approximately located between 35-55° N to 40-90° E.

It occupies a total land area of 4,180,500 km2 of which around 70% (2,926,000 km2) is agricultural

land (Ryan et al, 2004). However, only 14% of this area is under arable and permanent crops, the

remainder being under permanent pasture. A vast area is covered by deserts, mountains and

steppes. Climate is strongly continental and subject to extremes of cold winters and hot dry

summers, which limit cropping options. Rainfall is variable and uncertain, and the region is

subject to periodic droughts. Most rains come during the spring, but these are generally scarce,

with less than 40 mm per month. Only 30% of the total cropped area is irrigated. As it was stated

in the recently organized Research Need Assessment Meeting held in Tashkent for CGIAR-CAC (7-

9 March, 2007), the portion of saline soils of Uzbekistan has increased up to 60% of cultivated

land in the last decade, interesting almost half of the irrigated land of the country as a

consequence of nonobservance of recommended cultural practices and improper utilization of

irrigation. In Kazakhstan, out of 1.3 million hectares of irrigated cropland, salinity affected area

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covers about 470,000 ha (36%). In Uzbekistan, salinity affected areas are concentrated in the

regions of Khorezm, Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakistan, Bukhara, Sir Darya, while in

Kazakhstan, are present in the Aral sea basin including all cotton growing areas of South

Kazakhstan Province as well as rice growing area in Kzylorda Province. In Tajikistan, about 60

thousand hectares of land are affected by salinity, which is 8.5% of all irrigated land in the

country. This situation was further aggravated by two successive years of drought (2000 and

2001) that hit all Central Asia indistinctly. Under such conditions of degradation of water

resources and related salinization of irrigated land it is difficult to obtain good yields from most of

the crops, including potato. In particular, as it has been observed in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan,

there appears a correlation between salinity affected areas and presence of malnutrition (iron

deficiency) among the population, evaluated as high as 90 percent for women of childbearing

age and 61 percent for children (Giebel et al., 1998).

With a total population of about 74 million and a gross national income per capita declining by

an average of 40% between 1991 and 2003, six of the CAC countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) are now classified as least income countries.

Some 20% of the population is living on less than $US 2 a day, compared with just around 3%

prior to independence (ADB, 2006). In short, while many other regions in the developing world

are maintaining or improving their agricultural productivity and, in many cases, achieving

economic growth and reductions in poverty, the CAC region, on the contrary, has witnessed

rapid declines in agricultural output and an unprecedented increase in the extent and degree

of poverty in its population. Living standards have already declined and large sections of the

population, especially in rural areas, are worse off than they were under USSR. The region is in

danger of spiraling into declining agricultural production, increasing food insecurity and

poverty (3).

Although potato has always been an important food commodity in Central Asia and the Caucasus

(CAC) region, the potato research and development system in the region has fallen into isolation

and neglect since 1990. This has resulted in a loss of valuable local and old Russian varieties,

limited supply of quality seed tubers, decreased productivity and increased post-harvest losses. In

particular, with the collapse of USSR and consequent break down of former seed supplies, seed

potatoes started to be imported from Europe to replace the seed no longer available from Russia

and contiguous republics and with the imported seed, old local cultivars were replaced by the

new European varieties, which lack needed resistance and adaptive traits, and render farmers

largely dependent on expensive imported seed. The large majority of potatoes displayed on the

1 They are: Bioversity International, CIMMYT, CIP, ICARDA, ICRISAT, IFPRI, ILRI, IRRI and IWMI.



local markets are now all of Dutch and German origin, with a small percentage (<5%) represented

by local and Russian varieties.

Agricultural Production Systems

Cotton and wheat monocultures have been prevailing in the lowlands of Central Asia where

intense pressure to meet ‘state orders’ for the crops has virtually decimated the concept of

sustainable use of land resources for crop production. As a consequence, arable land resources

have come under serious threat of soil erosion, loss of soil fertility and organic matter due to over

grazing, expansion of cropped area, and increasing secondary salinization and waterlogging in

the irrigated areas. The improved availability of abiotic stress tolerant potato varieties would

encourage farmers to expand potato cultivation in the lowlands so as to create viable alternatives

to the traditional mono-cropping patterns.

In the lowlands of most of CAC countries, potato is cultivated in a dual cropping system often

practiced under irrigated conditions and, therefore, highly dependent on regular water supply. In

the first cropping season, with planting between February and March, and harvesting in May-

June, only early maturing varieties are cultivated. During the second cropping season, potatoes

are cultivated immediately after wheat, with mid-early maturing varieties planted at the end of

June-beginning of July, and early maturing varieties planted towards mid-July. Under certain

conditions (in the lowlands of Surkandarya region, Uzbekistan, and Central and Southern

Tajikistan), characterized by a long cropping season and mild winters, planting is carried out in

February and sometimes in November-December. The main cropping season is, however,

practised in the foothills and highland areas where mid-late and late maturing varieties are

cultivated with planting between April-June and harvest between September-October. Generally,

markets offer prime prices for early crops harvested in May-June, for which special varieties are

grown (i.e. Impala, Agata, Agave, Nevskyi, etc.).

Trends in the potato sector

The Central Asian and Caucasus region produces about 7.1 million tons of potatoes on about

507,000 hectares (Table 1, Graphs 1 and 2). The overall average yield is about 14.0 t/ha, with

Tajikistan and Armenia reporting the highest productivity of about 18.5 and 16.4 t/ha,

respectively (Table 1, Graph 3). Normally, productivity is low because average yields are only 4.6

times the amount of potatoes used as seed.

Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia have been increasing their cultivated area in the

last ten years (1996-2005). The potential of potato cultivation in Turkmenistan still remains low

because, in spite of the highest increase in cultivated area (+650%) among the eight countries in



the last ten years, this trend was not accompanied by a corresponding increase of yield (-5.7%). In

Armenia and Kazakhstan, the cultivated area has not as much increased as the production,

indicating that the increased yield has compensated for the decreased cultivated area.

Kazakhstan is the largest potato producer in the region with 165,000 hectares cultivated (2005)

and a production of 2.3 million tons of potatoes. It is followed by Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and

Uzbekistan. In 2005, for the first time since their independence, the total cultivated area in these

countries over passed 500 000 hectares2, representing an increase of 36.2% compared to 1996.

On the other hand, production increased more than the double (87.7%) in the same period (1996-

2005), while the overall average yield augmented by 37.2% ranging from 10.20 to 14.0 t/ha.

In this region potato is a very important staple and cash crop, so popular that it is called the

“second bread”. In terms of consumption, it comes third after wheat and rice in Uzbekistan, but

second in the other countries and its importance is gradually increasing. The per capita

consumption is on average of 96.2 kg/year (Table 1, Graph 4), ranging from 31.2 to 264.1

kg/capita/year, in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, respectively. Potato is the major crop in the

mountain areas of countries like Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, bringing a high

nutritive value to the daily diet of local populations.

Many consumers regret the time when “old” Russian varieties having both some appreciated

organoleptic characteristics (mealy cooking texture) and tolerance to stressful conditions (warm

temperatures, erratic moisture) were available on the local markets. The availability of potato

varieties having such abiotic stress tolerant characters would help to address the food shortage in

the medium to long-term and improve countries’ ability to mitigate the impacts of future

droughts.

2 As a matter of comparison, the potato cultivated area in the countries of South America, center of origin of potato in the world, amounted to a total of about 874,000 hectares in 2005 (FAOSTAT).



Potato cultivated area (1996 - 2005)

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Potato Production (1996 - 2005)

2005 1996

Figure 1.Potato cultivated area (1996 – 2005).

Figure 2.Potato Production (1996 – 2005).



Table 1. Central Asia and the Caucasus region: Trends in the potato sector (1996-2005).

Country Area (ha) Production (MT) Yield (t/ha) Population

(mln.)

Potato consumption

(kg/capita/year) 1996 2005 % 1996 2005 % 1996 2005 % 2005 2005

Armenia 32 645 34 439 5.5 426 163 564 212 32.4 13.05 16.40 25.7 3.0 188.1

Azerbaijan 21 168 70 675 234.0 214 556 870 000 305.5 10.10 12.30 21.8 8.4 103.6

Georgia 23 500 36 000 53.2 285 600 420 000 47.1 12.10 11.70 -3.3 4.5 93.3

Kazakhstan 187 500 165 000 -12.0 1 656 490 2 300 000 38.8 8.80 13.90 57.9 14.8 155.4

Kyrgyzstan 49 200 89 000 81.0 562 366 1 400 000 149.0 11.40 15.70 37.7 5.3 264.1

Tajikistan 10 000 30 000 200.0 107 700 554 948 415.0 10.80 18.50 71.3 6.5 83.4

Turkmenistan 4 000 30 000 650.0 21 300 150 000 604.2 5.30 5.00 -5.7 4.8 31.2

Uzbekistan 44 300 52 000 17.4 513 600 850 000 65.5 11.60 16.30 40.5 26.6 32.0

TOTAL 372 313 507 114 36.2 3 787 775 7 109 160 87.7 ---- ---- ---- 73.9 ----

MEAN ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- 10.20 13.72 34.5 ---- 96.2

Sources: FAOSTAT (1996-2005). UN Population Division: Population Database (2005 est.).



Bibliographic References

• ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB). 2006. Asian Development Bank Outlook 2006. Printed in

the Philippines. ISSN: 1655-4809

• Giebel, H.N., D. Suleymanova and W.E. Gregory. 1998. Anaemia in Young Children of the

Muynak District of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan: Prevalence, Type, and Correlates. Am.

Journal of Public Health. 88: 805-807.

• Ryan, J., P.L.G. Vlek and R.S. Paroda (eds.). 2004. Agriculture in Central Asia: Research

for Development. Proceedings of a Symposium held at the American Society of Agronomy

Annual Meetings at Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, Nov. 10-14 2002. Zentrum für

Entwicklungsforschung (ZEF) Universität Bonn, International Center for Agricultural

Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria. xviii + 361 pp. ISBN: 92-9127-156-3.



IN-VITRO MULTIPLICATION AND PRODUCTION OF MINITUBERS OF CIP ADVANCED

VIRUS-RESISTANT CLONES IN UZBEKISTAN

/// Carli C., Khalikov D.3, E. Holmuratov, G. Nasirova4

Abstract In-vitro plantlets belonging to 34 advanced virus-resistant clones supplied by CIP to NARS in

Uzbekistan in April 2005 were multiplied on a contract basis by the Biotechnology Laboratory of

Tashkent State Agrarian University (TSAU). Once the screenhouse built by CIP in the premises of

TSAU was ready, a total of 4 927 in-vitro plantlets were transplanted in beds for the production of

disease-free minitubers under controlled conditions, between January and March 2006. A total of

31 210 minitubers were produced. Plantlets transplanted in January gave better yield than those

transplanted in March with an average of 9 vs. 2.4 minitubers/plant.

Key words: Potato, Solanum tuberosum, plant tissue culture, MS salts, potato viruses, abiotic

stress, potato propagation.

Introduction Uzbek NARS received from CIP 34 advanced virus-resistant clones in form of in-vitro germplasm

materials in April 2005. In-vitro plantlets were multiplied on a contract basis by the Biotechnology

Laboratory of Tashkent State Agrarian University (TSAU) and thereafter transplanted for

minituber production in the 350 m2 screenhouse built by CIP in the premises of the University,

between January and March 2006. The selection of virus resistant clones is a priority for

Uzbekistan due to the high virus pressure existing in many agricultural environments of the

country. Some of these elite breeding lines were developed by the national potato programs of

Argentina (INTA) and Chile (INIA), situated in long day environments. They are characterized by

high levels of resistance to viruses, which are the major cause of degeneration of vegetative

potato seed, are heat tolerant and possess the market characteristics now being sought by

consumers and merchants to meet the emerging demand of the fast food industry. One of the

varieties (‘Achirana-INTA’) was successful in northern China following its introduction by CIP in

1979, and more recently, several were shown to produce well under the subtropical conditions of

Georgia (Bonierbale, 2003). Some of the introduced CIP elite breeding lines have the highest

available Fe and Zn content.

3 Carlo Carli, Potato Seed Production Specialist, and Durbek Khalikov, Assistant Agronomist, CIP-Liaison Office for CAC region, CGIAR-CAC, Murtazaeva Str. 6, 700000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tel: (998-71) 137 17 82; Fax: (998-71) 120 71 25. E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.cipotato.org



In Uzbekistan, as in many countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus region, western-introduced

potato varieties represent about 90 per cent of the market, the rest being covered by local or old

Russian varieties. The main objective of introducing and testing CIP-derived clones is, therefore,

to enhance local breeding program and enrich national breeding stock by selecting some high

yielding, short and mid-maturing, heat tolerant varieties which could be fit into the production

system of the lowlands as a second crop after wheat, with planting in June-July and harvest in

October-November. This will enhance flexibility of the agricultural system that will receive benefit

from a crop that everybody considers as a viable alternative to the traditional mono-cropping

patterns based on cotton and wheat.

Materials and methods After a necessary period of acclimatization, the in-vitro plantse(two/clone) were multiplied in the

premises of the Biotechnology Laboratory of TSAU. A sterilized medium appropriate for the crop

in multiplication was used, consisting of MS salts (Murashige & Skoog, 1962) with the following

additions: 2 mg/l glycine, 0.5 mg/l nicotinic acid, 0.5 mg/l pyridoxine, 0.4 mg/l thiamine, 2.5%

sucrose, 3.0 g agar (Dodds et al., 1986). Six to eight explants were transferred in glass pots about

10 cm diametre. Once sealed with aluminium foil, the pots were placed in two growth rooms at

22°C and 16 hours daylength.

In the meantime, a screenhouse, about 350 m2 capacity, was being constructed in the premises of

the University, close to the Biotech Laboratory. The aphid-proof screen made of strengthened

nylon was imported from India thanks to the assistance of CIP-SWCA. The screenhouse was

equipped with special electric bulbs (500 W each) to ensure extra-light conditions during winter

time, and a heating system with pipes placed inside the structure and allowing free circulation of

hot water produced by means of an electric heating system, although rudimentary. Attempts to

get connection to the city gas pipeline did not succeed. Approaching winter time, the whole

screenhouse was covered with a polythene sheet to protect the internal environment from too

low temperatures. Approaching spring time, the polythene sheet was raised from the sides

during the day so as to allow fresh air circulation inside the structure.

Once the infrastructure was ready, in-vitro plants were transplanted in beds at the density of 50

in-vitro plants/m2 (20 x 10 cm) using a wooden marker that made planting faster and easier The

substrate was composed of subsoil, sand and well-decomposed organic manure (1:1:1). The

following fertilizers were added and thoroughly mixed with the substrate: 35 g of

monoammonium phosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate per square metre. Immediately after

4 Elmurod Holmuratov, former Director, and Galina Nasirova, Biotechnology Specialist, Biotechnology Dept. of Tashkent



transplanting and until the plants were 15-20 cm high, they were watered with a solution

containing 4 g of monoammonium phosphate dissolved in one litre of water, twice a week. This

favoured root development and strength. At the first hilling up, 20 g of ammonium sulfate were

applied per square metre. Watering was done when needed. To carry out the second hilling up,

TSAU staff was trained to use two pieces of plywood so as to easily separate the two

neighbouring rows and add soil substrate in between.

Approaching plant maturity, plant haulms were cut following a standardized method (Davies et

al., 2000; Hutchinson et al., 2003; Essah et al., 2005). About two weeks later, minitubers were ready

for harvesting. At harvesting, seed tubers were graded in three calibres: >40 mm, 20-40 mm and

<20 mm. Minitubers larger than 20 mm were meant for further field multiplication, while those

less than that calibre were considered for further planting in seedbeds at a high density.

Laboratory staff was provided with manuals translated in Russian and concerning potato

micropropagation. A special attention was paid in explaining sanitation procedures all along the

process, from the laboratory to the screenhouse. The importance of using calcium hypochlorite

and soapy water as means to prevent contamination by contact viruses and viroids and wearing

of labcoats during laboratory and greenhouse activities were stressed since these fundamental

practices were almost unknown. This problem was observed in many other countries of Former

Soviet Union (FSU).

Results Frequent electric failures and drops in voltage caused important damages to the old air

conditioners that were consequently replaced with new ones in the two growth chambers of the

laboratory, in July 2005. As a result, the abrupt increase of temperature generated inside the

growth chambers caused an infestation with fungal diseases on many in-vitro plants that were

consequently eliminated.

The proper implementation of the program encountered some other difficulties that delayed the

beginning of activities, namely: the slow speed in the construction of the screenhouse, the lack of

connection with the city gas pipeline, which would have ensured the proper functioning of the

heating system since November 2005, disagreement reached with the new University Rector

about the location of the screenhouse, despite predecessor’s agreement, and, finally, the death of

a laboratory technician due to electrocution for improper isolation of electric cables, which took

place in the laboratory in April 2006.

Agrarian University (TSAU).



The successful transplanting of in-vitro clones was finally done in two stages, 10 to 25 January,

and 27 February to 17 March 17, 2006. Plants were hilled up twice. Harvest of potato plants issued

from first transplanted in-vitro plantlets started on May 22 and continued until May 27. Yield was

equivalent to 9 minitubers per plant with an average tuber weight of 5.1 g (see Table 1).

On the other hand, plants issued from the second transplanting, with harvest in July, yielded less

giving an average of 2.4 minitubers per plant (see Table 2). This was most probably influenced by

the high temperatures that normally occur from May onward.

In total, 31 210 minitubers of the total weight of 160.45 kg were produced from 4 927 in-vitro

plants with an average tuber weight equivalent to 5.1 g.

Minitubers harvested in May were disinfected by soaking them in 0.3% boric acid solution for 30

minutes. Once dried, they were treated with GA3 (1 ppm) and Thiourea (10 g/liter of water), on

May 29, to break dormancy for further multiplication at the mid-elevation station of Pskem.

Plants belonging to clones 397054.3, 397073.16 and 392780.1 shown to be the most susceptible

to heat during growth in the screenhouse. In fact, at temperatures above 30°C, leaves were less

turgid and color turning yellow. On the contrary, clones 390663.8, 391180.6, 397029.21,

397035.26, 397965.28, 397077.16, 397099.6, 720087, 720088, 720089, 720090, 720140, 720141

and 720147 seemed to be more tolerant to heat than the others.

Conclusions and discussion The high temperatures reached in Tashkent during the period May-September make absolutely

compulsory transplanting of in-vitro plantlets and further plant growth during the remaining part

of the year, under conditions of controlled temperature and extended day length. In the country,

especially in the Tashkent belt, there is a tradition of growing vegetables (tomato, cucumber, etc.)

during winter time under controlled conditions and, therefore, we considered this opportunity

also valid for potato. Of course, this technology, to be successful, requires the regular supply of

electricity and gas to ensure proper functioning of the heating system and provide potato plants

with the right photoperiod. However, under these conditions costs of production are

undoubtedly increased, leaving scope to other less expensive and risky solutions. It is, therefore,

questionable whether this technology would have a future in Tashkent. It would be, therefore,

advisable to move the entire infrastructure (laboratory, screenhouses) to the highlands where

temperature is less constraining during the growing season. To do so, the Government should

create the conditions for such transfer by building proper infrastructure in situ and posting staff.



The only inconvenience would be that these sites are situated far from Tashkent and, therefore, of

difficult supervision and control.

Furthermore, in the absence of a private sector able to implement this challenging activity, it

would be advisable that the Government allocates a special budget for this kind of activity, thus

avoiding current and chronic under funding situations. Tissue culture for its nature (need for

plant stock management, timely provision of chemicals and reagents, regular supply of

electricity, dedication of staff, routinely work, etc.) is more tailored for the private sector as, under

public sector management, it encounters serious difficulties of implementation. Our attempt to

get the parastato involved (i.e. the seed company “Uzkartoshkanavuruglari”), which is provided

with its own budget, may be probably successful in the near future. For the above reasons, this

technology would seem more appropriate for germplasm multiplication rather than seed

production, in order to allow a faster propagation of elite breeding lines under disease-free

conditions.

Some modifications to the applied technology under screenhouse conditions will be considered

in the near future, especially those concerning plant density that will be brought to 20 in-vitro

plants per square meter (50 x 10 cm). This will result in a less constraining implementation of

activities by staff, especially at hilling up time, since the method used was applied by workers

with some difficulty. As a consequence, we expect a higher average tuber weight than that

obtained this year.

The rehabilitation of an existing cold store of the capacity of about 100 m3 should be also

envisaged otherwise it will be difficult to keep minitubers under proper physiological conditions

until planting time due to the high temperatures recorded in spring. Playing with temperatures

(thermic chocks), it will then be easy to break dormancy, thus avoiding application of chemicals

like thiourea that has been recognized to transmit cancer to human beings.



Table 1. Tashkent State Agrarian University: production of minitubers issued from in-vitro clones supplied by CIP (first transplanting stage: 10-25 January, 2006).

NARS code

# CIP Transpl. Date

No. of in-vitro plants

Tuber Size (mm)

No. of tubers (pieces)

Total weight (kg)

Average tuber

weight (g) 104 20-40 mm 160 3.2 20.0

<20 mm 537 2.4 4.5 C-1 388611.22 18.01.06

Total 697 5.6 8.0 104 20-40 mm 89 1.2 13.5

<20 mm 988 3.0 3.0 C-2 388615.22 17.01.06

Total 1,077 4.2 3.9 104 >40 mm 12 0.4 33.0

20-40 mm 134 2.4 18.0 <20 mm 455 2.5 5.5

C-3 388676.1 17.01.06

Total 601 5.3 8.8 104 >40 mm 11 0.4 36.0

20-40 mm 200 3.7 18.5 <20 mm 934 4.1 4.4

C-4 388972.22 19.01.06

Total 1,145 8.2 7.2 104 >40 mm 12 0.5 42.0

20-40 mm 114 2.1 18.4 <20 mm 414 1.9 4.6

C-5 390478.9 16.01.06

Total 540 4.5 8.3 104 >40 mm 8 0.2 25.0

20-40 mm 131 2.5 19.0 <20 mm 548 2.3 4.2

C-7 391180.6 19.01.06

Total 687 5.0 7.3 104 20-40 mm 88 1.8 20.4

<20 mm 600 2.7 4.5 C-8 392780.1 21.01.06

Total 688 4.5 6.5 104 20-40 mm 52 1.0 19.2

<20 mm 203 1.2 5.9 C-10 392797.22 25.01.06

Total 255 2.2 8.6 60 >40 mm 63 2.7 43.0

20-40 mm 148 2.8 19.0 <20 mm 317 1.7 5.4

C-11 397029.21 25.01.06

Total 528 7.2 13.6 104 20-40 mm 241 3.2 13.3

<20 mm 1,142 4.7 4.1 C-12 397030.31 15.01.06

Total 1,383 7.9 5.7 104 20-40 mm 145 2.4 16.5

<20 mm 1,400 3.9 2.8 C-13 397035.26 20.01.06

Total 1,545 6.3 4.0 104 >40 mm 64 3.8 59.0

20-40 mm 190 3.2 16.8 <20 mm 242 0.75 3.0

C-14 397065.28 20.01.06

Total 496 7.75 15.6 104 20-40 mm 185 2.3 12.4

<20 mm 2,303 4.2 1.8 C-16 397073.16 19.01.06

Total 2,488 6.5 2.6 104 >40 mm 10 0.5 50.0

20-40 mm 172 2.8 16.2 <20 mm 1,287 3.9 3.0

C-17

397077.16 21.01.06

Total 1,469 7.2 4.9 104 20-40 mm 137 5.1 37.0

<20 mm 700 4.0 5.7 C-18 397099.4 21.01.06

Total 837 9.1 10.8



104 20-40 mm 173 3.8 21.9 <20 mm 2,400 6.3 2.6

C-20 397054.3 21.01.06

Total 2,573 10.1 3.9 65 20-40 mm 100 2.1 21.0

<20 mm 780 2.1 2.6 C-21 720087 15.01.06

23.01.06 Total 880 4.2 4.7

104 20-40 mm 61 1.2 19.6 <20 mm 1,020 2.2 2.1

C-22 720088 10.01.06 21.01.06

Total 1,081 3.4 3.1 60 20-40 mm 18 0.15 8.3

<20 mm 202 0.3 1.4 C-23 720089 16.01.06

Total 220 0.45 2.0 156 20-40 mm 81 1.0 12.3

<20 mm 1,300 2.7 2.0 C-24 720090 15.01.06

Total 1,381 3.7 2.6 112 20-40 mm 42 0.4 4.5

<20 mm 825 1.6 1.9 C-25 720140 15.01.06

Total 867 2.0 2.3 104 20-40 mm 81 0.6 7.4

<20 mm 640 1.2 1.8 C-26 720141 14.01.06

Total 721 1.8 2.4 104 20-40 mm 110 2.0 18.0

<20 mm 588 2.2 3.7 C-27 720139 22.01.06

Total 698 4.2 6.0 104 20-40 mm 57 0.7 12.3

<20 mm 420 1.5 3.5 C-28 720147 15.01.06

23.01.06 Total 477 2.2 4.6

104 20-40 mm 42 0.5 11.7 <20 mm 408 0.8 1.9

C-29 720148 18.01.06

Total 450 1.3 2.8 104 20-40 mm 75 1.1 14.6

<20 mm 428 1.2 2.8 C-30 720149 25.01.06

Total 503 2.3 4.5 104 >40 mm 10 0.3 30.0

20-40 mm 115 2.3 20.0 <20 mm 770 2.3 2.9

C-33 720189 18.01.06

Total 895 4.9 5.4 104 20-40 mm 22 0.4 18.0

<20 mm 675 1.4 2.0 C-34 720157 13.01.06

Total 697 1.8 2.5 55 20-40 mm 52 0.6 11.5

<20 mm 305 0.35 1.1 C-34 720157 13.03.06

Total 357 0.95 2.7 TOTAL 2,900 ---- 26,236 134.7 5.1



Table 2. Second transplanting stage (27/02 – 17/03, 2006) with harvest in June-July, 2006.

NARS code

# CIP Transpl. Date

Harvesting date

No. of in-vitro plants

No. of tubers

(pieces)

Total weight (kg)

Average tuber

weight (g) C-1 388611.22 17.03 17.07 95 91 0.63 6.9 C-3 388676.1 14.03 13.07 130 80 0.54 6.7 C-6 390663.8 27.02 12.07 40 60 0.20 3.3 C-7 391180.6 14.03 13.07 104 386 2.41 6.2 C-9 392781.1 14.03 12.07 100 544 1.27 2.3 C-12 397030.31 14.03 13.07 100 64 0.33 5.1 C-13 397035.26 16.03 17.06 108 347 4.26 12.3 C-15 397069.11 27.02 12.07 104 63 0.19 3.0 C-17 397077.16 16.03 17.07 188 224 2.33 10.4 C-18 397099.4 10.03 12.07 95 162 0.94 5.8 C-19 397099.6 15.03 14.07 58 35 0.10 2.8 C-20 397054.3 13.03

16.03 13.07 112

112 573 2.00 3.5

C-21 720087 10.03 12.07 79 145 0.80 5.5 C-26 720141 13.03 13.07 95 490 1.49 3.0 C-28 720147 15.03 14.07 100 419 1.67 4.0 C-29 720148 27.02 17.07 104 374 1.51 4.0 C-30 720149 14.03 13.07 120 450 2.22 4.9 C-32 720188 15.03 14.07 108 225 1.29 5.7 C-33 720189 15.03 14.07 75 242 1.57 6.5 TOTAL 2,027 4,974 25.75 5.2


• Bonierbale, M. 2003. LD-Varieties CAC-2003. CIP, Lima, Peru. (Unpub.).

• Davies, K. and F. Milne. 2000. Potato haulm destruction in conventional and organic crops.

Technical note T491, SAC Edinburgh, 4 p.

• Dodds, J.H., D. Silva-Rodriguez and J.E. Bryan. 1986. Transport, receipt and propagation of in-

vitro potato plantlets. International Potato Center (CIP). pp. 13. ISBN 92-9060-087-X.

• Essah, S.Y.C., D.G. Holm and R.D. Davidson. 2005. Timing vine kill to manipulate yield, tuber

size distribution and quality of two red potatoes. Annual meetings of the Potato Association

of America. July 17-21, 2005. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. [Abstract].

• Hutchinson, C.M. and W.M. Stall. 2003. Potato vine killing or desiccation. HS925 Document,

Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

• Murashige T. and F. Skoog. 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bio-assays with

tobacco tissue cultures. Physiologia Plantarum. 15 473-497.



MULTIPLICATION AND FIRST SCREENING OF ADVANCED VIRUS-RESISTANT CLONES

FOR MULTILOCATION TRIALS IN UZBEKISTAN

/// Carli C., Khalikov D.5

Abstract Potato minitubers belonging to 27 out of 34 CIP elite breeding lines issued from in-vitro

germplasm supplied by CIP, Lima, in April 2005, and harvested under screenhouse conditions in

Tashkent in May 2006, were multiplied in the fields of a research station based at mid-elevation (1

600 m asl), at the border with Kazakhstan. After breaking dormancy with GA3 and Thiourea, the

minitubers were planted from the end of June up to mid-July, 2006. Observations were

conducted during the growing season. About 1 029 kg of high quality seed potatoes belonging

to the 27 elite breeding lines were harvested on October 19 and November 04. Among them, the

most productive were clones 720150, 392780.1, 397030.31, 720147 and 397077.16 with

respectively 20.3, 11.3, 9.5 and 8.0 tubers/plant. The average tuber weight varied from 25.5 (clone

397077.16) to 108.9 g (clone 720149), with an overall mean weight equivalent to 57.1 g. Clones

720150, 388611.22, 388615.22, 390478.9, 391180.6, 392797.22, 397030.31, 397054.3, 397077.16,

392780.1 and 720189 should be ranked among the early bulking materials. Clone 397054.3 is also

characterized by the highest available iron and zinc content. Only four clones (388972.22,

397030.31, 397073.16 and 397077.16) produced sufficient planting materials to undertake

multilocation trials in four-five locations of Uzbekistan in 2007.

Key words: Potato, Solanum tuberosum, plant tissue culture, dormancy breaking, potato viruses,

biotic and abiotic stress, potato propagation, Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata,

sierozem.

Introduction Uzbek NARS received from CIP 34 advanced virus-resistant clones in form of in-vitro germplasm

materials in April 2005. In-vitro plantlets were multiplied on a contract basis by the Biotechnology

Laboratory of Tashkent State Agrarian University (TSAU) and thereafter transplanted in beds for

minituber production under screenhouse conditions in the premises of the same University,

between January and March 2006. The selection of virus resistant clones is a priority for

Uzbekistan due to the high virus pressure existing in many agricultural environments of the

country. Some of the elite breeding lines were developed by the national potato programs of

Argentina (INTA) and Chile (INIA), situated in long day environments. They are characterized by a

5 Carlo Carli, Regional Seed Specialist, and Durbek Khalikov, Assistant Agronomist, CIP-Liaison Office for CAC region, CGIAR-CAC, Murtazaeva Str. 6, 700000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tel: (998-71) 137 17 82;



high level of resistance to viruses, which are the major cause of degeneration of vegetative

potato seed, are heat tolerant and possess the market characteristics now being sought by

consumers and merchants to meet the emerging demand of the fast food industry. One of the

varieties (‘Achirana-INTA’) was successful in northern China following its introduction by CIP in

1979, and more recently, several were shown to produce well under the subtropical conditions of

Georgia (Bonierbale, 2003). Furthermore, some of the introduced CIP elite breeding lines have the

highest available Fe and Zn content.

In Uzbekistan, as in other countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus region, western-introduced

potato varieties represent about 90 per cent of the market, the rest being covered by local or old

Russian varieties. The main objective of introducing and testing CIP-derived clones is to enhance

local breeding program and enrich national breeding stock by selecting some high yielding, early

and mid-maturing, heat tolerant varieties, which could be grown in the dual cropping system of

the lowlands and fit into the production system as a second crop after wheat, with planting in

June-July and harvest in October-November.

Materials and methods Minitubers issued from in-vitro plants belonging to 27 CIP elite breeding lines, grown under

screenhouse conditions in the premises of TSAU, and harvested between 22-27 May, 2006, were

planted in single or double rows at 70 cm x 25 cm spacing in the fields of a research station

situated at mid-elevation level (1 600 m asl), about 200 km from Tashkent, in two steps: first

planting was on June 28-30, and second planting on July 12-13, 2006. One month before

planting, minitubers were treated with GA3 (1 ppm) and Thiourea (10 g/liter of water), to break

dormancy following the same methodology recommended by several authors (Bryan, 1987;

Rehman et al., 2003). Prior to planting, fertilizers in form of ammonium sulfate (21N: 26 g/linear

metre), and monoammonium phosphate (11N - 46P2O5: 27 g/lm) were applied along the rows and

thoroughly mixed with the soil. Ammonium sulfate was split in two applications: half amount

before planting and half before the first hilling-up. The standard fertilization formula consisted of:

120 N - 177 P2O5. Some of the clones with seed tubers of very small size were planted in a special

nethouse at the spacing of 45 x 20 cm, on July 12, 2006.

In Pskem, soil is a typical eroded sierozem with a pH equivalent to 6.2. Results of other soils

analyses are herewith reported.

Fax: (998-71) 120 71 25. E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.cipotato.org



Table 1. Results of soil analyses, Pskem, 2006.

N-NO3

(mg/kg)

P2O5

(mg/kg)

K2O

(mg/kg)

C/N (%)

35.2 63.7 396.7 1.2917

Pskem is in the second subzone (foothill areas of Tashkent and Samarkand) of the northern

climatic zone with sierozems and sierozem meadow soils, and a low salt content (FAO, 2003). The

ground water contains little salt (1 to 3 g/litre); the vegetative period is of 200 days; the sum of

temperatures does not exceed 3 600°C to 4 000°C; the amount of rainfall is 360 to 400 mm a year,

falling mostly in the winter and early spring.

At the beginning, furrow irrigation was provided at weekly intervals and, after the second hilling-

up, every ten-fourteen days. Crop protection consisted of three applications of the insecticide

Gaucho (imidacloprid) at the rate of 0.16 kg/ha, to control Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa

decemlineata), the major potato pest in Central Asia. Haulm killing was practiced on September

28 (90 days after planting), October 07 and 20, once about 70% of tubers reached the seed size,

following a standardized method (Davies et al., 2000; Hutchinson et al., 2003; Essah et al., 2005),

and clones harvested on October 18 and November 04, 2006. Each clone was harvested and

bagged separately. At harvest, data were recorded on number of plants harvested, number of

tubers per clone, total weight (kg), weight of undersized tubers (less than 25 mm, in kg), weight

of seed-sized tubers (between 25 and 55 mm, in kg), weight of commercial tubers (>55 mm, in

kg), average tuber weight (g), yield per plant (kg), number of tubers per plant, and presence of

diseases or abnormalities. Immediately after harvesting, tubers were disinfected against soil-

borne diseases by soaking them in a 0.3% boric acid solution (3 g boric acid in 1 litre water) for 30

minutes, dried and sent to the cold store belonging to the State Organization called

“Uzkartoshkanavuruglari”, near Tashkent, where they were stored until spring 2007.

Results In total, about 1,029 kg of high quality seed potatoes belonging to 27 elite breeding lines were

harvested on October 19 and November 04. Results are shown in Tables 4 and 5. No clones were

rejected because of tuber diseases or abnormalities. The average tuber weight varied from 25.5

(clone 397077.16) to 108.9 g (clone 720149), with an overall mean weight equivalent to 57.1 g.

Clones 720150, 392780.1, 397030.31, 720147 and 397077.16 were the most productive with

respectively 20.3, 11.3, 9.5 and 8.0 tubers/plant. Clones 720150, 388611.22, 388615.22, 390478.9,

391180.6, 392797.22, 397030.31, 397054.3, 397077.16, 392780.1 and 720189 should be ranked



among the early bulking materials. Clone 397054.3 is also characterized by the highest available

iron and zinc content.

Ten clones planted on July 12 (see Tables 3-5) were harvested later, towards the first week of

November. To notice also that clone 397077.16 showed profuse flowering and copious berry

setting, important characteristics when clones are selected for crossing purposes.

Conclusions and discussion Four clones, namely 388972.22, 397030.31, 397073.16 and 397077.16, produced enough planting

materials to undertake multilocation trials in five localities representing different Uzbek agro-

ecological conditions: Tashkent, Samarkand, Khorezm, Surkhandaria and Ferghana regions.

Testing will be done during two growing periods with planting at the end of February and 2nd half

of June-beginning of July, respectively. For each one of the multilocation trials 240 tubers/clone

of a size comprised between 35 and 55 mm will be required. The other clones will be further

multiplied in the mid-elevation station of Pskem. At the end of the storage period, each clone will

be evaluated in terms of storage behaviour.

Average plant productivity was low (5.5 tubers/plant) mainly because the majority of seed tubers

did not have more than one or two sprouts at planting. In fact, due to late harvest of minitubers

at TSAU, we were then obliged to immediately treat them with chemicals to break dormancy to

have them ready for planting not later than the end of June-beginning of July, which is normally

considered the deadline for the main growing season in the highlands.

Due to the characteristics observed on clone 397077.16, we decided to retain it for future

crossing programs. One of the local varieties selected by NARS in the past could complete the

pedigree. It is to be noticed that such clone was also the most productive in Tajikistan.



Table 2. Phenological characteristics of clones planted in Pskem, Uzbekistan, between 28-30 June, 2006.

No. NARS

code CIP No. Flowering date

(*) Plant vigour

(1-3) (**)

Plant height (cm)

Observations (presence of diseases)

1. 1 388611.22 21.08.06 1 52.0 ---

2. 2 388615.22 08.09.06 1 80.0 ---

3. 3 388676.1 15.08.06 1 53.0 ---

4. 4 388972.22 15.08.06 1 52.0 ---

5. 5 390478.9 15.08.06 1 57.0 ---

6. 7 391180.6 21.08.06 1 62.0 ---

7. 10 392797.22 21.08.06 1 71.0 ---

8. 11 397029.21 21.08.06 1 60.0 ---

9. 12 397030.31 08.09.06 1 76.0 ---

10. 13 397035.26 08.09.06 1 64.0 ---

11. 14 397065.28 08.09.06 1 52.0 ---

12. 16 397073.16 21.08.06 1 51.0 ---

13. 17 397077.16 15.08.06 1 59.0 ---

14. 20 397054.3 08.09.06 1 73.0 ---

15. 33 720189 15.08.06 1 51.0 ---

16. 34 720157 21.08.06 1 57.0 ---

(*) when about 80% of plants are flowering (**) 1: very vigorous; 3: weak growth.



Table 3. Phenological characteristics of clones planted in Pskem, Uzbekistan, between 12-13 July, 2006.

No. NARS

code CIP No. Flowering date

(*) Plant vigour

(1-3) (**)

Plant height (cm)

Observations (presence of diseases)

1. 8 392780.1 18.09 1 93.0 ---

2. 18 397099.4 18.09 1 66.0 ---

3. 21 720087 12.09 1 30.0 ---

4. 22 720088 12.09 1 97.0 ---

5 23 720089 18.09 65.0 ---

6. 24 720090 15.09 1 39.0 ---

7. 25 720140 12.09 1 79.0 ---

8. 26 720141 12.09 1 44.0 ---

9. 27 720139 15.09 1 80.0 ---

10. 29 720148 12.09 1 60.0 ---

11. 30 720149 15.09 1 86.0 ---

12 31 720150 10.08 1 82.0 Rhizoctonia solani (aerial tubers on one plant only)

(*) when about 80% of plants are flowering (**) 1: very vigorous; 3: weak growth.



Table 4. Results of harvest of CIP-advanced potato clones at Pskem, Uzbekistan (28-30/06/06 – 19/10/06).

% Tuber distribution

No. NARS

code

CIP No. No. of Plants

harvested

No. of tubers

harvested

No. of Tubers/

plant

Total weight

(kg)

<25 mm % 25-55 mm

% >55 mm % Av. tuber wt. (g)

Yield/ plant (kg)

1. 1 388611.22 284 1,104 3.9 50.90 349 31.7 505 45.7 250 22.6 46.1 0.179

2. 2 388615.22 220 731 3.3 34.35 206 28.2 376 51.4 149 20.4 47.0 0.156

3. 3 388676.1 282 1,177 4.2 42.95 335 28.5 617 52.4 225 19.1 36.5 0.152

4. 4 388972.22 414 2,063 5.0 76.30 710 34.5 1,012 49.0 341 16.5 37.0 0.184

5. 5 390478.9 184 622 3.4 32.95 176 28.4 284 45.6 162 26.0 53.0 0.179

6. 7 391180.6 156 850 5.4 37.90 240 28.2 446 52.5 164 19.3 44.6 0.243

7. 10 392797.22 130 1,008 7.7 38.15 295 29.3 600 59.5 113 11.2 37.8 0.293

8. 11 397029.21 204 1,218 6.0 43.25 403 33.1 626 51.4 189 15.5 35.5 0.212

9. 12 397030.31 521 4,962 9.5 135.40 1,845 37.2 2,533 51.0 584 11.8 27.3 0.260

10 13 397035.26 281 1,154 4.1 53.50 337 29.2 567 49.1 250 21.7 46.4 0.190

11 14 397065.28 243 1,362 5.6 50.20 413 30.3 656 48.2 293 21.5 36.9 0.207

12 16 397073.16 478 3,243 6.8 98.10 792 24.4 2,006 61.9 445 13.7 30.2 0.205

13 17 397077.16 416 3,323 8.0 84.65 1,427 42.9 1,516 45.7 380 11.4 25.5 0.203

14 20 397054.3 465 1,746 3.8 53.60 687 39.4 853 48.8 206 11.8 30.7 0.115

15 33 720189 227 805 3.5 48.75 164 20.4 421 52.3 220 27.3 60.6 0.215

16 34 720157 173 464 2.7 21.70 89 19.2 283 61.0 92 19.8 46.8 0.125

17 8 392780.1 70 404 5.8 15.45 124 30.8 220 54.4 60 14.8 38.2 0.221

18 31 720150 3 61 20.3 4.01 --- --- 51 83.6 10 16.4 65.8 1.338

TOTAL 4,751 26,297 --- 922.11 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

MEAN --- --- 5.5 --- --- 28.7 --- 53.5 --- 17.8 41.4 0.260



Table 5. Results of harvest of CIP-advanced potato clones at Pskem, Uzbekistan (12-13/07/06 – 04/11/06).

% Tuber distribution

No. NARS code

CIP No. No. of Plants

harvested

No. of tubers

harvested

No. of Tubers/

plant

Total weight

(kg)

<25 mm % 25-55 mm % >55 mm % Av. tuber wt. (g)

Yield/ plant (kg)

19 8 392780.1 26 293 11.3 21.25 63 21.5 145 49.5 85 29.0 72.5 0.817

20 18 397099.4 96 270 2.8 25.85 41 15.2 119 44.1 110 40.7 95.7 0.269

21 19 397099.6 23 181 7.9 10.70 50 27.6 95 52.5 36 19.9 59.1 0.465

22 24 720090 51 152 3.0 10.34 17 11.1 89 58.6 46 30.3 68.0 0.203

23 25 720140 48 290 6.0 15.20 80 27.6 150 51.7 60 20.7 52.4 0.317

24 26 720141 6 17 2.8 1.56 2 11.8 9 52.9 6 35.3 91.8 0.260

25 27 720139 33 177 5.4 13.60 30 16.9 78 44.1 69 39.0 76.8 0.412

26 28 720147 7 56 8.0 1.83 18 32.1 29 51.8 9 16.1 32.7 0.261

27 29 720148 8 21 2.6 1.48 6 28.6 11 52.4 4 19.0 70.5 0.185

28 30 720149 10 45 4.5 4.90 10 22.2 13 28.9 22 48.9 108.9 0.490

TOTAL 308 1,502 --- 106.71 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

MEAN --- 5.4 --- --- 21.46 --- 48.65 --- 29.89 72.84 0.368




• Bonierbale, M. 2003. LD-Varieties CAC-2003. CIP, Lima, Peru. (Unpub.).

• Bryan, J.E. 1987. Breaking the rest period of dormant potato tubers. CIP, Lima, Peru. Technical

Note. pp. 6.




vitro potato plantlets. International Potato Center (CIP). pp. 13. ISBN 92-9060-087- X.




• FAO. 2003. Fertilizer Use by Crops in Uzbekistan. Land and Plant Nutrition Management

Service, Land and Water Development Division. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

OF THE UNITED NATIONS, Rome, 2003. • Hutchinson, C.M. and W.M. Stall. 2003. Potato vine killing or desiccation. HS925 Document,


• Rehman, F., S.K. Lee, A. Khabir and H. Joung. 2003. Evaluation of various chemicals on

dormancy breaking and subsequent effects on growth and yield in potato microtubers under

greenhouse conditions. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 619:375-381.



STUDY AND MULTIPLICATION OF ADVANCED VIRUS-RESISTANT POTATO CLONES

FOR MULTILOCATION TRIALS IN TAJIKISTAN

/// Carli, C.6, Partoev K., Melikov K.7, Aliev K., Naimov S.8

Abstract In-vitro elite breeding lines supplied by CIP, Lima, in April 2005, and multiplied by the Institute of

Plant Physiology and Genetics, Dushanbe, were transplanted under field conditions in Faizabad

district, Tajikistan, at the elevation of 2 300 m asl, on June 14, 2006. Observations were conducted

during the growing season. At harvest, we noticed important plant losses (55.6%) likely due to

insufficient hardening of in-vitro plantlets. Clones 397077.16, 397054.3 and 391180.6 were the

most appreciated for their regular and uniform production. In particular, clone 397077.16, for its

tuber shape and color, was called “banana potato” by local breeders and farmers engaged in

harvesting operations. It is also early bulking. The harvested tubers will be further multiplied in

2007 before multilocation trials could start.

Key words: Potato, Solanum tuberosum, plant tissue culture, potato viruses, biotic and abiotic

stress, potato propagation, solar sterilization.

Introduction Tajik NARS received from CIP 28 advanced virus-resistant clones in form of in-vitro germplasm

materials in April 2005. The selection of virus resistant clones is a priority for Tajikistan due to the

high virus pressure existing in the lowlands. Some of the varieties were developed by the national

potato programs of Argentina (INTA) and Chile (INIA), under long day environments. They

possess resistance to viruses, which are the major cause of degeneration of vegetative potato

seed, are heat tolerant and have the market characteristics now being sought by consumers and

merchants to meet the emerging demand of the fast food industry. Six among them have the

highest available Fe and Zn content.

Because of the lack of quality seed at an affordable price, Tajik farmers typically multiply their

own saved seed potatoes year after year without the renewal that is necessary to reduce diseases

carried by the tubers from one year to the next. The necessity to provide farmers and seed

producers with potato varieties that are not encumbered by stringent regulations entailing the

6 Carlo Carli, Regional Seed Specialist, CIP-Liaison Office for CAC region, CGIAR-CAC, Murtazaeva Str. 6, 700000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tel: (998-71) 137 17 82; Fax: (998-71) 120 71 25. E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.cipotato.org 7 Kurbonali Partoev, Potato Breeder, Kurbonali Melikov, Agronomist, Horticulture Institute “Bogparvar”, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 8 Kurbon Aliev, Biotechnologist, Safarali Naimov, Wheat Breeder, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Dushanbe, Tajikistan.



payment of royalties to western seed companies is also considered a high priority. For this, the

International Potato Center (CIP) should play an important role with the supply of breeding

materials or adapted germplasm for variety development. This would allow the identification of

clonal varieties with the resistance/tolerance characteristics (virus, heat, salinity) that will permit

farmers to grow their own seed or replace it only every 3-4 seasons with highland sources, having

acquired a basic understanding of seed management.

Timing of potato planting depends on the zones of cultivation. In the valleys of Central and

Southern Tajikistan, characterized by a long cropping season and mild winter, planting is carried

out in November-December, February-March and in the second half of July-beginning of August.

On the other hand, in the plains of Sogd region (Northern Tajikistan) potato is mainly planted in

spring (second half of March-beginning of April). In the foothill and mountainous areas planting

starts in the second half of April to be finalized in early June.

The main objective of introducing and testing CIP-derived clones is to select some high yielding,

early, mid-maturing and late varieties which could be grown in the dual cropping system of the

lowlands and in the main cropping season of the highlands. Local breeders, in fact, search for

valuable alternatives to varieties Cardinal (late maturing), Picasso (mid-late) and Jukowsky ramni

(early maturing) that are particularly appreciated by farmers in Tajikistan.

This work has also been possible thanks to the logistic support graciously offered by the FAO

Emergency Coordinating Unit, Dushanbe, through the project OSRO/TAJ/401/CAN.

Materials and methods In-vitro plants issued from 24 elite breeding lines supplied by CIP in April 2005 and multiplied in

the laboratory of the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics were transplanted under

nethouse conditions in the highlands of Faizabad district (2 200 m asl), approx. 100 km from

Dushanbe, on June 14, 2006. A typical nethouse used by the above FAO project measures approx.

5 x 20 m and consists of metallic arcs and a cover made of cotton gauze, locally manufactured, to

ensure a certain protection to in-vitro plantlets at the beginning of their growth. Height of the

frame was about 2 m. The adopted planting distance was equivalent to 45 x 20 cm. Clones

397065.28, 397099.4, 388676.1 and 720147 were lost during the multiplication process and

consequently not transplanted in the field.

Prior to planting, well-decomposed organic manure was added to the seedbed (approx. 10

tons/ha) and thoroughly mixed with the soil, which received the following basal fertilizers per



unit area: 200 kg of ammonium nitrate (34N), 400 kg of monoammonium phosphate (11N-46P2O5)

and 200 kg of potassium chloride (50K2O). A second application of ammonium nitrate (200 kg/ha)

was done before the first hilling up. Furrow irrigation was provided ten times during the growing

season. No crop protection measures were applied.

Soil pH was equivalent to 7.8. Results of other soil analyses are herewith reported.

Table 1. Results of soil analyses, Boboi Vali village, Faizabad district, Tajikistan, 2006.

Total Not fixed N %

P2O

5

% K

2O

% N-NO

3

mg/kg P

2O

5

mg/kg K

2O

mg/kg C/N (%)

0.212 0.543 1.25 14.5 53.85 246 3.68

Haulm killing was practiced once 70% of tubers reached the seed size, following a standardized

method (Davies et al., 2000; Hutchinson et al., 2003; Essah et al., 2005), and clones harvested on

October 11, 2006, about two weeks later once tuber skin was sufficiently hardened. Each clone

was harvested and bagged separately.

During the growing season observations were conducted and data reported on intensity of

flowering, plant vigour, plant height and health (see Table 2). At harvest, data were recorded on

number of plants harvested, percentage of plant losses (harvested potato plants vs. transplanted

in-vitro plants), number of tubers per clone, total weight (kg), tuber yield per plant (kg), average

tuber weight (g) and presence of diseases or other tuber abnormalities. Immediately after

harvesting, tubers were weighed, bagged, disinfected against soil-borne diseases by soaking

them in a 0.3% boric acid solution (3 g boric acid in 1 litre water) for 30 minutes, dried and stored

in a cellar in the nearby village.

Results In total, about 560 kg of high quality seed potatoes belonging to 24 elite breeding lines were

harvested and stored for further multiplication that will be carried out in the highlands of

Tajikistan in 2007. Results are shown in Table 3. Clone 720149 was rejected because sensitive to

growth cracks recorded on numerous samples. The average tuber weight varied from 56.6 (clone

388611.22) to 150.0 g (clone 397029.21), with an overall average tuber weight of 79.5 g. Clones

720157 and 397099.6 were the most productive with respectively 28 and 20 tubers/plant. Of

particular importance were plant losses that were reported as high as 55.6%, on average, at

harvest. Clones 397077.16, 397054.3 and 391180.6 were the most appreciated for their regular

and uniform production and tuber characteristics. In particular, clone 397077.16, for its tuber



shape and color was called “banana potato” by local breeders and farmers engaged in harvesting

operations. It is also early bulking. Clone 397054.3 is also characterized by the highest available

iron and zinc content. To notice some very good performance obtained from single plants of

clones 720157, 388972.22 and 397054.3, notwithstanding the high plant density adopted: in fact,

there were plants yielding 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 kg, per each clone respectively, with a number of

tubers varying from 13 to 37.

Discussion and Future Plans Tajik staff should focus their attention on in-vitro plants management to reduce plant losses that

are still considerable (55.6%). Considering that the cost of producing one in-vitro plant at the

Biotechnology Dept. of Tashkent State Agrarian University has been evaluated at $US 0.26, this

means that in-vitro plant losses were equivalent to approx. $US 220. The following advices to

reduce plant losses, which are probably related to improper plant hardening and soil-borne

pathogens, should be carefully considered:

• Before transplanting in-vitro plantlets, a few soil samples should be taken and sent to a

laboratory to detect presence of any soil-borne pathogens;

• If the presence of soil pathogens is detected, then it would be recommended to sterilize the

substrate. In this case, solar sterilization is the cheapest solution to apply (Aguilar et al., 1989);

• At transplanting, wash the agar from the roots by gently immersing them several times in

sterilized water, trying not to wet the rest of the plantlet;

• Cover the plantlets with a plastic cover (polythene sheet) to prevent dehydration until the

roots are established (about 10 days);

• Gradually expose the plants to the normal atmosphere by removing the plastic sheet for

short periods every day;

• Once the plants are established and well rooted, normal fertilizer can be dissolved in the

irrigation water. It is very important at this stage to supply a liquid fertilizer (plantlets cannot

absorb dry fertilizers yet) containing phosphorus (i.e. monoammonium phosphate: 3-4 g/litre

of water) because it gives strength to the plants and stimulate root development. Apply the

solution to the plantlets with a watering can once every week until plants are about 20 cm

high. CIP, Lima, Peru, recommends 5 g of N:P:K at 12-12-12, per liter of water (Dodds et al.,

1986).

Before a new growing season starts, towards the end of March, seed tubers should be removed

from the cellar and placed in trays under indirect light conditions to stimulate the development

of sturdy, coloured sprouts, 2-3 cm long.



Table 2. Phenologic characteristics of CIP-advanced clones tested in Faizabad district, Tajikistan (24.08.06).

No. NARS

code CIP No. Intensity of

flowering (1-9)

(*)

Plant vigour

(1-3) (**)

Plant height (cm)

Plant Health (1-9) (***)

Presence of antocyans in the stem

1. 1 397077.16 8 1 60 9 Yes

2. 2 392781.1 8 1 50 2 (evident mosaic on some plants)

Yes

3. 3 390478.9 8 1 60 9 Not

4. 4 397030.31 8 2 30 3 (evident mosaic on some plants)

Not

5. 5 397099.6 8 2 40 5 Yes

6. 6 720149 8 1 50 7 Yes 7. 7 397029.21 8 2 30 7 Not

8. 8 392780.1 6 1 50 Very good clone (9) Not 9. 9 397035.26 6 1 50 6 Not

10. 11 388972.22 7 2 50 9 Not 11. 13 388611.22 7 1 50-60 9 Yes

12. 14 720148 5 1 60 6 Yes 13. 15 388615.22 8 1 60 8 Yes

14. 16 720088 2 1 50 9 A little

15. 17 720157 2 1 50 9 A little

16. 18 720090 5 2 45 7 Strong

17 20 720188 3 2 30 8 Strong

18 21 397069.11 3 1 60 Slight mosaic (6) Yes

19 22 720189 3 1 60 9 Strong

20 23 392797.22 3 1 50 8 Strong

21 24 390663.8 4 1 60 7 Yes

22 25 397073.16 3 2 30 6 Yes

23 26 391180.6 4 1 60 7 Not

24 27 397054.3 3 1 60 8 Not (*) 1-3 = no flowers; 4-6 = presence of flowers; 7-9 = profuse flowering; (**) 1: very vigorous; 3: weak growth; (***) 1-3 = very diseased plants; 4-6 = slight presence of diseases; 7-9

= very healthy plants.



Table 3. Results of harvest of CIP clones issued from in-vitro materials. Faizabad district, Tajikistan (14 June – 11 October, 2006).

No. NARS

code CIP No. No. of in-vitro

plants transplanted

No. of plants

harvested

In-vitro plant losses

(%)

Total No. of tubers

harvested

Av. No. tubers/

plant

Total weight

(kg)

Yield/ plant (kg)

Av. tuber

weight (g)

Remarks

1. 1 397077.16 260 182 30.0 2,105 11.6 138.5 0.761 65.8

2. 2 392781.1 69 31 55.1 257 8.3 23.0 0.742 89.5 3. 3 390478.9 82 34 58.5 304 8.9 35.5 1.040 116.8

4. 4 397030.31 63 2 96.8 13 6.5 1.0 0.500 76.9 5. 5 397099.6 13 1 92.3 20 20.0 2.5 2.500 125.0

6. 6 720149 38 Growth cracks (rejected)

7. 7 397029.21 15 2 86.7 20 10.0 3.0 1.500 150.0

8. 8 392780.1 68 34 50.0 356 10.5 25.0 0.735 70.2 9. 9 397035.26 44 16 63.6 183 11.4 10.8 0.675 59.0

10. 11 388972.22 35 14 60.0 200 14.3 15.5 1.107 77.5 11. 13 388611.22 26 4 84.6 53 13.2 3.0 0.750 56.6

12. 14 720148 88 32 63.6 253 7.9 23.2 0.725 91.7 13. 15 388615.22 50 19 62.0 176 9.3 19.4 1.020 110.2

14. 16 720088 25 6 76.0 73 12.2 6.5 1.083 89.0

15. 17 720157 7 1 85.7 28 28.0 3.0 3.000 107.1

16. 18 720090 80 33 59.0 261 7.9 27.8 0.842 106.5

17 20 720188 76 31 59.2 223 7.2 25.0 0.806 112.1

18 21 397069.11 59 33 44.1 262 7.9 21.0 0.636 80.1

19 22 720189 70 30 57.1 260 8.7 21.8 0.727 83.8

20 23 392797.22 21 9 57.1 76 8.4 7.6 0.844 100.0

21 24 390663.8 77 24 68.8 220 9.2 20.5 0.854 93.2

22 25 397073.16 56 21 62.5 268 12.8 17.0 0.809 63.4

23 26 391180.6 139 75 46.0 811 10.8 61.0 0.813 75.2

24 27 397054.3 68 45 33.8 617 13.7 48.0 1.067 77.8

TOTAL 1,529 679 55.6 7,039 10.4 559.6 0.824 79.5




• Aguilar, J.G., C.W. Vittorelli, J.M. Molina and O.K. Santisteban. 1989. Disinfest planting

substrate using the solarization method to produce basic category potato seed tubers.

INIAAP-COTESU-CIP Agreement. pp. 17. ISSN-92-9060-142-6.




vitro potato plantlets. International Potato Center (CIP). pp. 13. ISBN 92-9060-087-X.




• FAO. 2003. Fertilizer Use by Crops in Uzbekistan. Land and Plant Nutrition Management

Service, Land and Water Development Division. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

OF THE UNITED NATIONS, Rome, 2003.





THE REGIONAL POTATO CLONAL SELECTION CONDUCTED IN THE HIGHLANDS OF

TAJIKISTAN FOR THE BENEFIT OF SMALLHOLDERS OF CENTRAL ASIA AND

THE CAUCASUS REGION

/// Carli C. 9, Partoev K., Melikov K.10, Naimov S.11 Abstract In the CAC region, the introduction and testing of elite potato breeding materials is a priority as

many NARS plan to locally produce their own basic seed so as to reduce dependence on seed

imports from foreign countries. For this, the International Potato Center (CIP) has started a

threefold strategy with the supply of elite potato clones, TPS (True Potato Seed) and advanced TS

(True Seed) families. The latter would allow local NARS to work with better adapted germplasm

materials having a larger amount of diversity. Such a strategy has more chances to succeed

compared with the others and presents opportunities for feedback on progenitors for future

crossing plans. Tajikistan has been considered the main target for TS family selection for the

possibility to conduct the work under isolation in order to increase chances of getting healthy

sets of tuber families to be shared with other NARS’ evaluators. The paper relates on the results

obtained after three years of selection/evaluation conducted in two sites, Lakshe, at 2 700 m asl,

and Faizabad, located at 2 000 m asl., where two clones belonging to TS families TITIA x C93.154

(302478) and C92.140 x 92.187 (303414), both of red skin colour, were identified as the most

performing ones in 2007. In total, 29 clones, 14 in Faizabad and 15 in Jirgatal districts, were

retained for further evaluation/selection.

Key words: Potato, Solanum tuberosum, clonal selection, potato viruses, biotic and abiotic stress,

long day adaptation, Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Alternaria solani,

Streptomyces scabiae

Introduction In Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) region, the introduction and testing of elite potato

breeding materials is a priority as many NARS plan to locally produce their own basic seed so as

to reduce dependence on seed imports from foreign countries. For this, the International Potato

Center (CIP) has started a regional breeding selection scheme in Tajikistan on May 2005 with the

supply of forty True Seed (TS) families obtained from crosses between suitable parents selected

9 Carlo Carli, Potato Seed Production Specialist, CIP-Liaison Office for CAC region, CGIAR-CAC, Murtazaeva Str. 6, 700000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tel: (998-71) 137 17 82; Fax: (998-71) 120 71 25. E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.cipotato.org 10 Kurbonali Partoev, Potato Breeder, Kurbonali Melikov, Agronomist, Horticulture Institute “Bogparvar”, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 11 Safarali Naimov, Wheat Breeder, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Dushanbe, Tajikistan.



for combining ability in long day adaptation and virus resistance. Tajikistan has been chosen for

its unique characteristics in terms of environment (93% of the territory is covered by mountains),

isolation and limited virus pressure. The regional clonal selection started with the sowing of 100

seed per each one of the 40 TS families in two localities of Tajikistan, in May 2005. They are

situated in the north-western part of the country, at the border with Uzbekistan (Gonchi district),

and in the central part, at about 100 km from the capital Dushanbe (Faizabad district), at the

altitude of 2 300 and 1 600 m asl, respectively. Before sowing, TS were soaked for 30 minutes into

a solution containing potassium permanganate (0.05%) to disinfect the seed, and sown in plastic

cups, at the rate of one TS/cup. Substrate was composed of subsoil and organic manure in the

proportion of 1:1, with additional fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate (34%) and mono-

ammonium phosphate (11 N - 46 P2O5). Seedlings were grown under nethouse conditions.

Germination rate was equivalent to 48% (transplanted seedlings/True Seed) in Faizabad vs. 78%

in Gonchi. The germination rate was affected by the low temperatures recorded during the

month of May. Derived-rooted seedlings were then transplanted in the fields of the above

locations, on June 20 (Faizabad) and July 07 (Gonchi), 2005. While harvesting in Faizabad district

proceeded without problems during the month of October, in Gonchi district, it was hampered

by bad weather conditions that obliged to speed up operations at the expense of proper

evaluation. For that it was decided to emphasize results obtained in Faizabad district. In the latter

locality, at the end of the first year of selection, 627 clones were harvested out of which 231 were

retained for further evaluation (Carli et al., 2006). During the first field generation, families were

selected for visual characters such as tuberization, yield, tuber characteristics (regular shape and

skin colour, shallow depth of eyes), disease resistance, according to a CIP scale slightly modified

by local breeders. As a result of the second field generation in Faizabad district at 2 200 m asl,

from May 23 till October 2006, 40 clones belonging to 26 families were retained for further

observations, representing, therefore, 6.4 % of the original materials.

This activity has a regional scope in the sense that the most promising clones will be supplied

to other CAC-NARS for further evaluation in their respective countries. This is expected in

spring 2008.

This work has also been possible thanks to the logistic support graciously offered by the FAO

Emergency Coordinating Unit, Dushanbe, through the project OSRO/TAJ/401/CAN, which was

active until December 2006.



Materials and methods This is the classic breeding and selection technique used to create new potato varieties in 7 to 10

annual rounds of clonal selection and multiplication as reported by several authors (Bradshaw et

al., 1994; Holm, 1994; Jin et al., 2004; Voss et al., 2004). In 2007, two sites were chosen, one at a

high altitude (2 700 m asl) and the other at the level of about 2 000 m asl. They are representative

of the main potato growing areas of Tajikistan. The first site at a high elevation ensures the

selection/evaluation process under isolated conditions, being sufficiently high to avoid spread of

diseases and infestation by pests.

Tubers of the selected clones issued from the second field generation conducted in Faizabad

district in 2006, were stored in the cellar of a nearby farmer who participated in all the operations,

from land preparation till harvesting and evaluation/selection. Approximately forty five days

before planting, tubers were taken out of the store, sorted and split for planting either in Lakshe,

Jirgatal district, or in Faizabad district. Before planting, they were placed in a room with indirect

light to stimulate the development of sturdy and coloured sprouts.

A number varying from 10 to 40 tubers per each selected clone were planted with single

replication and at the distance of 0.60 x 0.30 m with 0.50m separation between each clone.

Planting was carried out on May 28 (Faizabad) and on May 22 (Lakshe).

The two experiments were set up in farmers’ fields and all the operations were executed by

farmers from ploughing till harvesting that was carried out under NARS and CIP’s supervision. The

two clonal selections received different fertilization formula, depending on the fertilizers

available locally. In Lakshe, for instance, the following fertilizers were applied: 400 kg/ha of

monoammonium phosphate locally called “ammophos” (11% N – 46% P2O5), 500 kg/ha of simple

superphosphate (16% P2O5) and 100 kg/ha of potassium chloride (60% of K2O). In Faizabad, prior

to planting, well-decomposed organic manure, at the rate of about 5 t/ha, was added to the

seedbed and thoroughly mixed with the soil, which received the following basal fertilizers per

unit area: 500 kg of ammonium nitrate (33% N), and 100 kg of potassium chloride (60% K2O). The

two different fertilization formulas were, therefore, equivalent to: 44 N – 264 P2O5 – 60 K2O, in

Lakshe, and 165 N – 60 K2O, in Faizabad. During the growing season, furrow irrigation was applied

7 and 10 times, in Faizabad and Lakshe, respectively. Only in Faizabad, insecticide Confidor

(imidacloprid: 200 g/L) was sprayed twice at the rate of 0.16 kg/ha of commercial formulation to

control Colorado potato beetle (Dorifera decemlineata, Say) that is absent at higher elevation.



In Faizabad, soil pH was equivalent to 7.8. Results of other soil analyses are herewith reported

(Table 1). Previous crop was wheat, while in Lakshe, before potato planting, land was under

pasture.

Table 1. Results of soil analyses, Boboi Vali village, Faizabad district, Tajikistan, 2007.

Total Not fixed N %

P2O

5

% K

2O

% N-NO

3

mg/kg P

2O

5

mg/kg K

2O

mg/kg C/N (%)

0.21 0.54 1.25 14.50 53.80 246.00 3.68

In Lakshe, soil pH was lower and equivalent to 7.0. Compared with the previous soil analysis, N-

NO3 content was higher (50 mg/kg), as well as P2O5 (65 mg/kg) and K2O (280 mg/kg). C/N was also

higher (4.72%).

Haulm killing was carried out once plants started slightly yellowing, 117 and 123 days after

planting, in Lakshe and Faizabad district, respectively, following a standardized method (Davies et

al., 2000; Hutchinson et al., 2003; Essah et al., 2005). In Lakshe harvest occurred on October 2,

while in Faizabad it was achieved the day after. In both sites, harvest occurred about ten days

after haulm killing once tuber skin was hardened enough.

During the growing season a series of observations were conducted as documented in Tables 2-3.

Immediately after harvesting, tubers were counted, weighed, bagged, disinfected against soil-

borne diseases by soaking them in a 0.3% boric acid solution (3 g boric acid in 1 litre water) for 30

minutes, dried and stored in a cellar in the nearby villages.

Results Results of observations conducted on August 18 and 23 are reported in Tables 2-3. Virus diseases

were only noticed in the plot established in Faizabad district. In fact, mosaic symptoms were

observed on some plants of a clone belonging to TS family 397036.7 x C93.154 (302089) and, as a

consequence, they were completely rejected. One clone from BEROLINA x C93.154 (302312) was

also eliminated in Faizabad because of its extreme susceptibility to early blight (Alternaria solani).

On the other hand, in Lakshe:

• one clone of LR93.050 x 92.187 (302391) was eliminated at harvest because of severe

infection by common scab (Streptomyces scabiae);

• two clones, one belonging to TS family C92.140 x C93.154 (302496) and another to PW.6187 x

C90.266 (302453) were eliminated at harvest because of presence of growth cracks.



No rotten tubers were observed in anyone of the harvested clones in both sites. Finally, the

following clones were classified as the most interesting (Tables 4-5):

in Lakshe, clone 40/1 of TS family TITIA x C93.154 (302478), with appealing oval-shaped tubers of

red skin colour, and a 100% marketability. The average tuber weight was equivalent to 217 g,

while the productivity corresponded to 1.13 kg of tubers per plant. Other productive clones were

47/8 and 52/6, belonging to TS families C92.140 x 92.187 (303414) and C91.640 x C93.154

(303408), respectively.

In Faizabad, clone 47/8 of TS family C92.140 x 92.187 (303414) was the most performing one with

red skin tubers, an average tuber weight of 163.5 g and a productivity of 2.78 kg per plant.

Conclusions and discussion During the 3rd field generation, we evaluated yields, we identified disease resistances and

selected clones based on maturity, yield estimate and performance of traits controlled by single

main genes such as tuber shape, skin colour, and tuber eye depth. As a result, 14 and 15 clones

were selected in Faizabad and Jirgatal districts, respectively, representing 2.2-2.4% of the original

materials selected in October 2005.

In general, depending on their vegetative period the selected clones can be classified into:

• mid-early maturing (90-95 days): the clone identified as 40/1 and belonging to TS family TITIA

x C93.154 (302478);

• mid-late maturing (105-110 days), all the other clones, apart from the clone identified as

44/11 and belonging to TS family 397036.7 x LR93.050 (302090), which can be considered as

a late maturing with a vegetative period of 120 days.

To continue the activity, adequate funding should be made available to CAC office since one of

the most relevant partners, the FAO project OSRO/TAJ/401/CAN, has been completed in

December 2006. Such project was instrumental in the provision of logistics all over the country

whenever there was a need. In fact, distances and road conditions in the country are such that

funds for transport and regular follow up of field activities, gathering data, etc., are relevant. Local

NARS is neither sufficiently equipped especially in terms of means of transporting nor receives

enough support from the Government.


• Bradshaw, J.E. and G.R. Mackay. Potato Genetics. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK,

1994. p. 467-497.



• Carli, C., K. Partoev, K. Melikov and S. Naimov. 2006. Regional potato clonal selection

conducted in the highlands of Tajikistan for the benefit of smallholders of Central Asia and

the Caucasus region. Working Paper. CIP-Tashkent.






• Holm, D.G. 1994. Russet Norkotah Clonal Selection Studies (Abstr.). Am. Potato J. 71:678.



• Jin, L.P., D.Y. Qu, K.Y. Xie, C.S. Bian and S.G. Duan. 2004. Potato Germplasm, Breeding Studies

in China. World Potato Congress, Beijing. 11 August, 2004.

• Voss, R.E., H. Phillips, M. Cantwell, D. Holm, C. Miller, H. Carlson, D. Kirby, R. Mullen, R. Novy, J.

Nunez, K. Rykbost, A. Mosley and B. Charlton. 2004. Potato variety selection and

development. In: 2003 Potato Board Annual Report. California Potato Research Advisory

Board. Dinuba, CA 93618. pp 9-68.



Table 2. Lakshe, Jirgatal district: Observations conducted in the Regional Potato Clonal Selection, May-October 2007.

Tajik catalogue

CIP No. Parental combinations # clones No. of plants

Plant vigour

(1-3) (*)

Plant height

(cm) Color of flowers

Intensity of

flowering (1-9) (**)

Plant health

(1-9) (***)

22 302330 DESIREE x C 90.266 12 12 1 60 white 6 7

15 7 1 70 white 5 7

16 8 2 50 purple 5 6

24 302371 KONDOR x C 90.266 3 5 2 50 white 6 6

8 8 2 40 white 2 7

25 302447 PW.6065 x C 90.266 1 11 1 60 white 8 8

26 302453 PW.6187 x C 90.266 2 15 2 50 white 5 7

7 16 1 60 white 7 7

8 9 2 40 white 7 6

27 302313 BEROLINA x TXY.2 5 24 2 50 white 6 6

29 303234 ALPHA x C92.140 5 28 1 60 purple 7

6 30 1 60 purple 7 7

30 302328 DESIREE x 92.187 9 18 1 60 white 3 7

10 15 1 90 purple 2 8

34 302312 BEROLINA x C93.154 4 9 1 60 light purple 6 7

6 17 2 60 white 4 7

36 302331 DESIREE x C93.154 3 12 1 70 purple 3 7



37 302372 KONDOR x C93.154 2 9 1 60 white 7 7

38 302448 PW.6065 x C93.154 6 8 1 70 light purple 7 7

40 302478 TITIA x C93.154 1 10 1 50 ------- 1 8

41 302499 YAGANA x C93.154 4 11 1 100 light purple 2 7

43 302084 397036.7 x 92.187 3 5 1 100 white 2 8

44 302090 397036.7 x LR93.050 10 19 1 120 white 1 8

11 33 1 120 white 1 7

47 303414 C92.140 x 92.187 3 15 1 80 white 9 7

4 14 1 80 purple 8 7

8 19 1 100 purple 9

48 302391 LR93.050 x 92.187 4 11 1 100 white 6 8

50 302089 397036.7 x C93.154 7 8 1 90 white 1 9

8 4 1 70 white 3 7

9 5 2 70 deep purple 4 6

52 303408 C91.640 x C93.154 6 23 2 60 white 9 6

53 302496 C92.140 x C93.154 4 5 1 80 white 3 9

54 302395 LR93.050 x C93.154 10 7 1 70 white 7 7

57 303130 392650.12 x 92.187 1 15 1 110 white/purple 6 7

60 303529 C97.270 x 393280.64 1 5 1 110 purple-white 3 8 Legende: (*) 1: very vigorous; 3: weak growth. (**) 1-3= no flowers; 4-6= presence of flowers; 7-9= profuse flowering. (***) 1-3= very diseased plants; 4-6= slight presence of diseases; 7-9= very healthy plants.



Table 3. Faizabad: Observations conducted in the Regional Potato Clonal Selection, May-October 2007.

Tajik catalogue

CIP No. Parental combinations # clones No. of plants

Plant vigour

(1-3) (*)

Plant height

(cm) Color of flowers

Intensity of

flowering (1-9) (**)

Plant health

(1-9) (***)

22 302330 DESIREE x C 90.266 12 12 1 60 white 6 7

15 16 1 70 white 5 7

16 12 2 80 purple 5 6

24 302371 KONDOR x C 90.266 3 10 2 60 white 6 6

8 10 2 60 white 2 7

25 302447 PW.6065 x C 90.266 1 9 1 70 white 8 8

26 302453 PW.6187 x C 90.266 9 20 2 100 white 5 7

27 302313 BEROLINA x TXY.2 5 22 2 80 purple 6 6

29 303234 ALPHA x C92.140 5 11 1 60 white 5 7

6 17 2 60 purple 5 6

30 302328 DESIREE x 92.187 9 16 1 80 white 3 7

10 15 1 80 white 2 8

34 302312 BEROLINA x C93.154 4 6 2 60 light purple 3 Alternaria

sol.

6 5 2 60 white 4 7

36 302331 DESIREE x C93.154 3 9 1 50 white 3 7

37 302372 KONDOR x C93.154 2 7 1 60 purple 7 7



38 302448 PW.6065 x C93.154 9 8 1 50 light purple 7 7

40 302478 TITIA x C93.154 1 10 1 50 purple 1 8

41 302499 YAGANA x C93.154 4 9 1 60 light purple 2 7

43 302084 397036.7 x 92.187 3 12 1 50 purple 2 8

44 302090 397036.7 x LR93.050 10 11 1 80 white 1 8

11 7 1 80 white 1 7

47 303414 C92.140 x 92.187 3 10 1 60 white 9 7

4 17 1 40 purple 8 7

8 5 1 70 purple 5 9

48 302391 LR93.050 x 92.187 4 16 1 80 white 6 8

50 302089 397036.7 x C93.154 7 6 1 70 white 1 9

8 6 1 60 purple 3 7

9 5 2 70 deep purple 4 3

10 12 1 100 white 4 6

52 303408 C91.640 x C93.154 6 21 2 60 white 9 6

53 302496 C92.140 x C93.154 5 7 1 60 purple 4 9

4 5 2 60 white 5 7

54 302395 LR93.050 x C93.154 9 7 1 90 white 6 7

10 16 1 90 white 5 7

55 303088 391065.81 x 92.187 4 13 1 100 white 6 7

57 303130 392650.12 x 92.187 1 29 2 60 white 5 7

60 303529 C97.270 x 393280.64 1 14 1 100 white/purple 5 8 Legende: (*) 1: very vigorous; 3: weak growth. / (***) 1-3= very diseased plants; 4-6= slight presence of diseases; 7-9= very healthy plants. (**) 1-3= no flowers; 4-6= presence of flowers; 7-9= profuse flowering.



Table 4. Regional Clonal Selection. Results of harvest in Jirgatal district (02 October, 2007). {Selected clones after the third field generation}.

# Tajik

Code CIP No. Pedigree

No. of plants

Color of tubers/ shape

No. of market.

and seed tubers

(1)

No. of small

tubers (2)

Weight (kg) (1)

Weight (kg) (2)

Total no. of tubers

Total weight

(kg)

Productivity/plant

(kg)

No. tubers/ plant

Av. Tuber

Weight (g)

Mark. Tubers

(%)

1 27/5 302313

BEROLINA x TXY.2

24 Cream/ oblong 150 93 20.5 4.5 243 25.0 1.04 10.1 102.9

82.0

2 30/9 302328

DESIREE x 92.187

18 Cream/ oblong 103 25 15.5 0.5 128 16.0 0.89 7.1 125.0

97.0

3 34/4 302312

BEROLINA x C93.154

16

Cream with

pinkish spots on

stolon end/oval

120 40 13.0 1.0 160 14.0 0.87 10.0 87.5

92.8

4 34/6 302312

BEROLINA x C93.154

15 White/ oblong 126 52 15.0 1.3 178 16.3 1.09 11.9 91.6

92.0

5 36/3 302331

DESIREE x C93.154

12 White/ oblong 73 30 15.5 0.7 103 16.2 1.35 8.6 157.3

95.7

6 37/2 302372

KONDOR x C93.154

9 White/ oblong 64 62 11.0 2.0 126 13.0 1.44 14.0 103.2

84.6

7 40/1 302478

TITIA x C93.154 (beautiful)

10 Red/ oval 52 0.0 11.3 0.0 52 11.3 1.13 5.2 217.3

100.0

8 44/11

302090 397036.7 x LR93.050 33

White/ oblong 196 120 26.7 5.0 316 31.7 0.96 9.6

100.3 84.2



# Tajik Code

CIP No. Pedigree

No. of plants

Color of tubers/ shape

No. of market.

and seed tubers

(1)

No. of small

tubers (2)

Weight (kg) (1)

Weight (kg) (2)

Total no. of tubers

Total weight

(kg)

Productivity/ plant (kg)

No. tubers/ plant

Av. Tuber

Weight (g)

Mark. Tubers

(%)

9 47/4 303414

C92.140 x 92.187

14 Red/

oblong 120 60 14.5 1.2 180 15.7 1.12 12.8 87.2

92.3

10 47/8 303414

C92.140 x 92.187

19 Red/

oblong 256 65 32.0 3.0 321 35.0 1.84 16.9 109.0

91.4

11 50/7 302089

397036.7 x C93.154

8 White/ round 120 17 10.0 0.3 137 10.3 1.29 17.1 75.2

97.0

12 50/8 302089

397036.7 x C93.154

4 White/ round 120 0 15.0 0.0 120 15.0 3.75 30.0 125.0

100.0

13 50/9 302089

397036.7 x C93.154

5 White/ oblong 35 50 8.5 0.6 85 9.1 1.82 17.0 107.1

93.4

14 52/6 303408

C91.640 x C93.154

23 White/ oblong 138 80 28.6 2.0 218 30.6 1.33 9.5 140.4

93.5

15 57/1 303130

392650.12 x 92.187

15 White/ oblong 115 100 15.0 1.5 215 16.5 1.1 14.3 76.7

90.9



Table 5. Regional Clonal Selection: results of harvest in Faizabad district (03 October, 2007). {Selected clones after the third field generation}.

# Tajik Code CIP No. Pedigree Number of plants

Color/shape of tubers

No. of tubers

Total weight

(kg)


No. tubers/ plant

Av. tuber weight

(g)

1 22/16 302330 DESIREE x C 90.266

11 Red/ round

116 8.5 0.77 10.5 73.3

2 27/5 302313 BEROLINA x TXY.2

22 Cream/ round

185 17.0 0.77 8.4 91.9

3 29/5 303234 ALPHA x C92.140

16 White/ round

91 9.1 0.57 5.7 100.0

4 30/10 302328 DESIREE x 92.187

11 Cream/ oblong

70 8.3 0.75 6.4 118.6

5 40/1 302478 TITIA x C93.154 10 Red/ oval

38 5.2 0.52 3.8 136.8

6 41/4 302499 YAGANA x C93.154

9 White/ oblong

59 4.9 0.54 6.6 83.1

7 44/11 302090 397036.7 x LR93.050

7 White/ oblong

44 5.0 0.71 6.3 113.6



# Tajik Code CIP No. Pedigree Number of plants

Color/shape of tubers

No. of tubers

Total weight

(kg)


No. tubers/ plant

Av. tuber weight

(g)

8 47/3 303414 C92.140 x 92.187

10 Cream/ round

78 10.0 1.00 7.8 128.2

9 47/8 303414 C92.140 x 92.187

5 Red/ oblong

85 13.9 2.78 17.0 163.5

10 48/4 302391 LR93.050 x 92.187

16 Cream/ round

106 10.0 0.62 6.6 94.3

11 53/4 302496 C92.140 x C93.154

7 Cream/ oblong

44 3.5 0.50 6.3 79.5

12 53/5 302496 C92.140 x C93.154

21 Pink/ oval

129 8.1 0.39 6.1 62.8

13 55/4 303088 391065.81 x 92.187

13 White/ round

86 9.9 0.76 6.6 115.1

14 60/1 303529 C97.270 x 393280.64

10 Deep red 59 5.0 0.50 5.9 84.7



Figure 1. Lakshe, Jirgatal district: clone 40/1 of TS family TITIA x C93.154 (302478), 02 Oct. 2007.

Figure 2. A detail of one tuber of clone 40/1. Average tuber weight: 217.0 g.



Figure 4. Lakshe, Tajikistan.

Harvest of clonal selection,

02 Oct. 2007.

Figure 3.A single hill of

clone 40/1.



EVALUATION OF CIP ADVANCED CLONES, LATE BLIGHT (PHYTOPHTHORA

INFESTANS) RESISTANT, IN GEORGIA (CAUCASUS)

/// Carli C.12, A. Gulbani and A. Zubiashvili13 Abstract NARS of Georgia received from CIP 15 late blight (Phytophthora infestans) resistant clones in April

2006. After initial multiplication in the laboratory of Crop Husbandry Institute, Tserovani, a few

kilometers far from Tbilisi, they were transplanted in the screenhouse built by CIP for further

increase of clonal materials. A certain amount of tubers harvested in November 2006 were

planted in a preliminary trial, in a field located in Dmanisi, about 100 km from Tbilisi, in the south-

western part of Georgia, at the altitude of 1 200 m asl. In the field, those clones showed a maturity

cycle too long to be considered suitable for local conditions: in fact, at 120 days of vegetative

period, tuberization was practically initiating. Moreover, stolon and root development were too

important thus making ridging and weeding complicate. The only positive feature was

represented by plant resistance to LB that for some clone was good since between 5 and 10% of

leaf area was covered by blight spots. Jointly with local NARS we decided to stop the evaluation

of B3C1 & B3C2 clones due to their exceedingly long maturity cycle.

Key words: Potato, Solanum tuberosum, Phytophthora infestans, plant tissue culture, long day

adaptation, Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Rhizoctonia solani, Erwinia spp.

Introduction In April 2006, Georgian NARS received from CIP 15 late blight (Phytophthora infestans) resistant

clones (B3C1 & B3C2) in form of in-vitro germplasm materials, which were then multiplied by the

Biotechnology Laboratory of the Crop Husbandry Institute, based in Mscheta-Tserovani, a few

kilometers far from Tbilisi. Once in sufficient number, in-vitro plantlets were then transplanted in

a screenhouse built by CIP in 2005 for further clonal material increase. Harvest was completed on

November 25, very late for the region, and exactly 166 days after transplanting of in-vitro plants that

occurred on June 12.

In Georgia, research has always neglected potato, notwithstanding its importance in the country

as a staple and cash crop. The orography of the country is typically mountainous since 54% of the

territory is covered by mountains, making potato an extremely suitable and profitable crop for

12 Carlo Carli, Potato Seed Production Specialist, CIP-Liaison Office for CAC region, CGIAR-CAC, Murtazaeva Str. 6, 700000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tel: (998-71) 137 17 82; Fax: (998-71) 120 71 25. E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.cipotato.org 13 Ana Gulbani, GeneBank Manager & Potato Research Assistant, Aleko Zubiashvili, Agronomist, Crop Husbandry Institute, Mtscheta-Tserovani, Georgia.



smallholders farmers who do not have many other resources than farming on plots of 1-2 ha size.

The potato area has increased from 21 900 ha in 1992 to about 36 000 ha in 2005 showing a

growth of about 64 percent in 14 years. About half of the potato area is under irrigation.

Statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture report that the main potato cultivated areas are situated

in the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti (12 663 ha), Kvemo Kartli (9 819 ha), Kakheti (4 038 ha),

Mtskheta-Mtianeti (2 424 ha) and Shida Kartli (1 834 ha). Potato yield varies considerably from

region to region, ranging from 16.3 t/ha of Samtskhe-Javakheti to 4.5 t/ha of Samegrelo and

Zemo Sva regions.

About 18 potato cultivars are currently grown in the country, among them the most appreciated

are of Dutch and German origin, such as: Impala (very early), Marfona (mid-early), Picasso (mid-

early), Sante (mid-early), Cosmos (mid-late), Desiree (late), Agria (late), Felicitas (early), Marabel

(mid-early), Palma (mid-early), Solara (mid-early) and Clarissa (mid maturing). Preferences are for

white skin, and early and mid-early cultivars. Due to well-established lobbies in the country, these

varieties are now widely diffused although they do not show particular resistance to late blight

that only a small percentage of farmers controls with fungicides.

The selection of LB resistant clones is, therefore, considered a priority for Georgia due to the

presence of aggressive strains of the fungus, particularly in the region of Ajara, a sub-tropical area

in the western part of the country, where airstreams from mainland and Black Sea often gather

together towards the month of July-August with consequent rainfalls and severe late blight

infection (Dr. G. Aleksidze: personal communication). However, no characterization of LB fungus

has ever been done in order to establish which race(s) of the pathogen is(are) present.

Georgian population in the countryside is alarmed by the consequences that the heavy use of

pesticides has on the environment, especially when the numerous and uncontaminated sources

of mineral water and health spa are concerned. Local scientists estimate that, if late blight was

controlled effectively and safely through the use of stable resistant varieties, the value of potato

production would increase as much as 40-50 percent with a correspondent significant reduction

in the use of pesticides. This would lead to increased farmer incomes and reduced environmental

risks due to the decreased pollution of groundwater and human exposure to fungicides.

Materials and methods During 2007, two activities were implemented by local NARS: (i) increase of clonal materials in the

screenhouse and (ii) preliminary observations conducted on the materials harvested last year in a

field located at about 100 km far from Tbilisi.



The procedures used for in-vitro propagation of fifteen advanced clones of the series B3C1 &

B3C2 in the laboratory of the Institute, and their transplanting in the screenhouse have been

documented in a previous working paper (Carli et al., 2006). Transplanting of in-vitro plants was

done on May 02 and harvest accomplished on October 16, 2007, that is a cycle of 167days.

On the other hand, in the second activity carried out in Dmanisi, at about 100 km from Tbilisi, in

the south-western part of Georgia, tubers harvested in the screenhouse last year were planted in

a field for preliminary observations concerning not only field resistance to LB, but, especially,

duration of the growing cycle and field adaptation, in general. Soil is classified as “meadow

chernosiom”, or black soil. Planting was done early, on April 15. In this preliminary trial, each

clone was planted in rows of 10/20 plants with single replication, at the planting distance of 0.7 x

0.25 m (57,000 pl/ha). The plot was surrounded by other fields planted with potatoes of the var.

Marfona, reported having low to medium resistance to late blight on foliage further to artificial

inoculum in the field (The European Cultivated Potato Database, 2007). The crop received as

basal fertilizers 350 kg/ha of mono-ammonium phosphate, called “ammophos” (11 N-46 P), locally,

and 130 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate, called “silitro” (33 N), locally. Potassium was not applied due to

the presence of this macroelement in the soil in quantities judged sufficient.

The plot was irrigated five times during the season. Other cultural practices comprised ridging,

which was done twice, and two insecticide applications to control Colorado potato beetle

(Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Say) using Confidor (imidacloprid: 200 g/L) that was sprayed at the

rate of 0.16 kg of commercial formulation per hectare.

During the growing season, late blight readings were taken on the same five plants per clone

during the whole period of observations, on the basis of the percentage of leaf area affected by the

disease using a scale developed by James (1971) to determine the LAI (Leaf Area Infection). The

first reading was done immediately after the first rainfall that was recorded on July 30, with

reading intervals of 10 days until 03 September, after which leaf damages by a hail storm made

reading impossible. Results of the readings in percentage of leaf area infected are reported in

Table 3. Resistance of different clones to the fungus was then measured using the Area Under the

Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) using Excel (CIP, 2007).

Harvest occurred on October 10. Tubers were then counted, bagged, weighed and stored in a

cellar in the premises of the Institute.



Results In the field, planting was done early in the season with emergence occurring about twenty days

later. At 120 days of vegetative period, the large majority of plants did not show any tuberization,

apart from clones 393077.159 and 393371.58, which had very small tubers of the size of a

hazelnut (personal observations). Harvest occurred after 178 days from planting. Deducting the

twenty days that occurred for the plants to emerge, the remaining 158 days of vegetative period

still represent a too long cycle under local conditions. Towards the first week of September the

crop was hit by a hail storm that considerably damaged the plants. Another constraint was

represented by stolon development that was so important in the clones under observation that

the farmer in charge to maintain the plot had problems to control with normal ridging.

Percentage of foliar area infected by late blight varied among clones and ranged from 5 to 30%

(Table 3). No fungicide was sprayed on the plants under observation, although the neighbouring

potato fields received three sprays of Anthracol WP 70 (propineb + cymoxanil). Clone 396031.119

resulted the most affected with 30% of LAI and some spots on the stems, followed by 391001.18,

393371.58, 396031.108 with 25% and clone 396244.12 with 20% of LAI. According to results

reported in Table 3, five clones did not show important symptoms (5% of LAI). Consequently,

clone 396031.119 showed the highest AUDPC value (516), followed by 393371.58 (465) and

391001.18 (386). Therefore, considering that the higher the AUDPC the more susceptible should

be the clone, many clones seemed to be resistant to the fungus.

The potato plants growing in the screenhouse built in the premises of the Crop Husbandry

Institute showed a lot of aerial stolons (secondary stems), which other stolons developed from, at

118 days from transplanting, in spite of well-made ridges about 30 cm high. Plants were also

flowering at the time of the visit. We saw similar behaviour in 2006, but we related it to the high

temperatures recorded in July and August and averaging 40°C. This year, on the contrary,

average temperature was about 10°C lower in the same period of time.

It is important to notice that the plant losses observed last year (plants harvested/in-vitro plants

transplanted) were reduced this year, from 50.5% of 2006 to 17% (Table 1). Among the clones

transplanted in the screenhouse, plant survival rate ranged from 62 (clone 39004.337) to 96%

(clone 396031.119).

Results of the harvest, both in the screenhouse and in the field are presented in Tables 1 and 2,

respectively. At harvest that was completed on October 10 and 16, in the field and in the

screenhouse, respectively, clones were not productive, just yielding very small tubers.



Conclusions and discussion B3C1 & B3C2 LB resistant clones sent to Georgia are not adapted to local conditions for one

reason: their cycle is so long that nobody would accept to cultivate them, regardless their high

level of resistance to late blight.

Length of stolons is also questionable (see pictures, in Annex), which makes ridging and weeding

difficult and risky due to the damages that such cultural practices may cause to stolons and roots,

thus favouring Rhizoctonia solani or Erwinia spp. (blackleg) attacks. Local preferences are for

compact tubers, very close to the plants, and limited root development.

In conclusions, we decided to stop the evaluation of B3C1 & B3C2 clones until new adapted

clones will be supplied by CIP. As an alternative, it was decided to test some of the virus resistant

clones that have given good results in Central Asia, although their resistance to LB is still

unknown.

In the near future, research should also be axed on the study of the population structure of P.

infestans in the country and on the development of an integrated disease management (IDM)

strategy to control the pathogen that should be effective, environmentally friendly and

economical.


• Carli, C. and A. Zubiashvili. 2006. In-vitro multiplication and production of minitubers of LB

resistant clones from native germplasm in Georgia (Caucasus). Working Paper. CIP-Tashkent.

• International Potato Center (CIP). 2007. Procedures for standard evaluation trials of advanced

potato clones. An International Cooperators’ Guide. CIP, Lima, Peru. 124 pp. ISBN: 978-92-

9060-258-3.

• James, C. 1971. A manual of assessment keys for plant diseases. Canada Dept. of Agriculture.

Publication No. 1458.

• The European Cultivated Potato Database. 2007. www.europotato.org. ECPD version 2.0.

Website maintained by the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, Edinburgh UK. ITS SASA

©2007.



Table 1. Tserovani-Mtscheta. Yield of LB resistant clones grown in the screenhouse (02 May-16 October, 2007)

# Clone No. of in-vitro plants

transplanted

Flowering date

Plant height

(cm)

Number of plants

harvested

(%) survival

Number of tubers

Total weight (kg)

Average tuber weight

(g)

No. tubers/ plant

1 391004.18 70 10.06.07 95 62 89.0 115 1.4 12.0 1.8

2 391046.14 50 14.06.07 80 47 94.0 88 1.3 14.0 1.9

3 391058.175 59 19.06.07 105 53 90.0 67 1.5 22.0 1.3

4 391058.175 22 16.06.07 114 18 82.0 130 1.4 11.0 7.2

5 393085.5 50 15.06.07 112 42 84.0 110 1.5 14.0 2.6

6 393280.64 51 17.06.07 100 40 78.0 150 1.8 12.0 3.7

7 393371.58 39 16.06.07 97 32 82.0 90 1.0 11.0 2.8

8 395011.2 49 13.06.07 105 41 84.0 105 1.4 13.0 2.6

9 39004.337 21 15.06.07 100 13 62.0 35 1.0 28.0 2.7

10 396029.250 28 16.06.07 120 20 71.0 120 1.2 10.0 6.0

11 396031.108 69 16.06.07 109 61 88.0 179 2.5 14.0 2.9

12 396031.119 97 14.06.07 111 93 96.0 200 3.0 15.0 2.1

13 396034.103 97 17.06.07 110 84 87.0 191 2.6 14.0 2.3

14 396241.4 60 14.06.07 102 43 72.0 100 1.7 17.0 2.3

15 396244.12 135 17.06.07 109 115 85.0 250 3.4 14.0 2.2

Mean 60 ---- 105.0 51 83.0 ---- ---- 15.0 3.0



Table 2. Dmanisi. Yield of LB resistant clones grown in a farmer’s field (15 April-10 October, 2007).

# Clone Flowering

date Height of

plants (cm) Number of plants

Number of tubers

Total weight (kg) Average tuber weight (g)

1 391001.18 5.06.07 60.0 102 60 1.7 28.0

2 391046.14 2.06.07 55.0 100 48 1.5 31.0

3 391058.175 7.06.07 62.0 108 44 1.2 27.0

4 393077.159 3.06.07 55.0 90 117 7.2 61.0

5 393085.5 1.06.07 43.0 25 34 1.0 29.0

6 393280.64 4.06.07 40.0 54 67 1.5 22.0

7 393371.58 4.06.07 80.0 120 87 1.6 18.0

8 395011.2 2.06.07 75.0 57 59 1.4 23.0

9 39004.337 1.06.07 39.0 40 50 1.0 20.0

10 396029.250 7.06.07 80.0 87 69 1.9 27.0

11 396031.108 3.06.07 65.0 79 80 1.5 19.0

12 396031.119 2.06.07 60.0 109 88 1.9 21.0

13 396034.103 6.06.07 55.0 69 62 1.7 27.0

14 396241.4 3.06.07 50.0 28 19 1.0 52.0

15 396244.12 7.06.07 60.0 3 8 0.2 25.0

Mean ---- 58.6 71.0 ---- ---- 29.0

56

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