Breeding for Improved Tuber Quality by Introgressing Tuber Calcium Uptake Trait

 ‘Atlantic’ is the standard variety for chipping from the field or very short-term cold storage. It has traits desired by the chip industry such as uniformity, high specific gravity and high yield. However, ‘Atlantic’ tubers are susceptible to common scab and internal defects such as internal brown spot (heat necrosis), black spot bruise and hollow heart. In contrast, ‘Superior’ has been reported as resistant to common scab and internal defects. Also, previous studies in our program revealed that ‘Superior’ has high tuber calcium as compared to ‘Atlantic’.  The F1 segregating populations of a reciprocal cross between ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Superior’ was evaluated for specific gravity, yield, common scab, internal quality and external appearance. These evaluations revealed that the phenotypic segregation patterns among reciprocal populations were similar for most traits but differed for yield. The characteristics of these populations suggest that: (i) this population is segregating for tuber calcium, tuber quality, scab incidence, specific gravity and tuber yield; (ii) the clones from this 4X-4X  population can be adapted to commercial production in a shorter time than introducing traits from exotic germplasm; (iii) the maternal effect on the evaluated traits can be studied and the best female parent to improve a specific trait can be identified for future crosses; (iv) these populations can be used to map traits of commercial interest and identify molecular markers linked to them; (v) the desired traits of the two parents might be combined to develop a new improved Atlantic; (vi) and preliminary analyses suggest there is a genetic association between tuber calcium and tuber quality.