DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED BACK-CROSS PROGENIES OF POTATO SOMATIC HYBRIDS AND LINKED ISSR MARKERS FOR LATE BLIGHT RESISTANCE WITH DIVERSE GENETIC BASE- FIRST EVER PRODUCED IN INDIAN POTATO BREEDING

Abstract

Elite hybrid progenies of late blight resistant potato somatic hybrids were developed through hybridization with common potato varieties, and also linked ISSR markers were identified with resistant parent/progenies.Previously developed potato somatic hybrids (considered as F1 being protoplast fusion product between Solanum tuberosum dihaploid‘C-13’ + S. pinnatisectum) were back-crossed with potato varieties (S. tuberosum) and true potato seed (TPS) were roduced.TPS-raised seedlings were advanced to back-cross progenies clones (BC1-C1, BC1-C2, BC1-C3 and BC1-C4) during the five years based on tuber traits in field trials and field resistance to late blight. The BC1-C2 progenies were profiled by ISSR markers and alleles linked to late blight resistant somatic hybrid parent P8 and their progenies (P8 × Kufri Jyoti) were identified. Eight promising advanced hybrids of BC1-C4 progenies (Kufri Garima x Bulk pollen: MSH/14-7; Kufri Gaurav x P2: MSH/14-129 and -131 for yield enhancement; P8 x Kufri Jyoti: MSH/14-112, -113, -115, -122 and -123 for late blight resistance and dry matter) were identified. This study concludes successful exploitation of interspecific potato somatic hybrids possessing high resistance to late blight and developed promising clones with linked ISSR alleles for genetic fidelity and breeding purposes. This is the first ever report in India towards widening the genetic base of potato by exploitation of interspecific somatic hybrids.