DEVELOPMENT OF NITROGEN USE EFFICIENT POTATO HYBRIDS: EVALUATION OF PROGENIES FOR AGRONOMIC, PHYSIO-BIOCHEMICAL AND NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY TRAITS

Abstract

Global agriculture is causing environmental pollution due to excess application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in
high N requiring crops like potato. Hence, aim of this study was to develop potato hybrids with enhanced nitrogen use
efficiency (NUE) and yield traits under limited N availability. We generated here a bi-parental population of 116 progenies by
crossing two contrasting varieties viz., Kufri Jyoti (N inefficient) and Kufri Gaurav (N efficient). After six years (2015-21) of
breeding, clonal selection and field trials, we developed advance hybrids based on 20 traits of agronomic, physio-biochemical
and NUE parameters. Significant variations were observed in the progenies for most traits such as plant height, total leaf
area, shoot dry weight and tuber traits (number, yield and dry matter). Further, plant total N content, NUE variables (NUE,
NUpE, NUtE, HI and NHI) and physio-biochemical properties also differed significantly. The principal component analysis
(PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) distinguished variations. We observed significant and positive
correlations with tuber traits and NUE variables. Finally, three advance hybrids (NUE/15-8, NUE/15-23, and NUE/15-67) with
high yield and NUE combined with other desirable tuber traits are demonstrated here. Our study also implies that tuber
yield and NUE are the key criteria for selection of N use efficient genotypes under limited N input.