THE USE OF ENDOSPERM BALANCE NUMBER AND 2N GAMETES TO TRANSFER EXOTIC GERMPLASM IN POTATO

A triploid hybrid (2n = 3x = 36) between a colchicine-induced 4x(2EBN [endosperm balance number]) Solanum brevidens (a non-tuber-bearing species) and 2x(2EBN) S. chacoense (a tuber-bearing species) was used as a vehicle for germplasm transfer to S. Tuberosum group Tuberosum. The use of 2n gametes from the triploid allowed the unique opportunity for transferring exotic germplasm from series Etuberosa to group Tuberosum material. The triploid hybrid used had a pollen stainability of < 0.1%. Observations of microsporogenesis revealed that metaphase I pairing configurations were primarily 12 bivalents and 12 univalents with occasional trivalents. Anaphase I separations were irregular, often with lagging univalents. Meiotic observations and pollen morphology suggest that the stainable pollen produced by the hybrid was 2n = 3x = 36. A single pentaploid hybrid (2n = 5x = 60) was produced by the fertilization of a rare 2n egg from the triploid with a normal male gamete from the clone Wis AG 231 (2n = 4x = 48). Limited crosses to other 1, 2 and 4EBN species and cultivars were unsuccessful. The pentaploid hybrid had a more regular meiosis than the triploid and dramatically improved pollen stainability (37% stainable pollen). Stylar blocks prevented estimates of male fertility in crosses. Female fertility in 47 crosses with 9 cultivars averaged 19 seeds/fruit. Although S. brevidens is non-tuber-bearing, and the triploid produced only stolons, the pentaploid hybrid tuberized well under field conditions, despite being very late. The tuberization response is apparently a dosage and/or threshold effect. This approach to the incorporation of 1EBN germplasm indicates the utility of the EBN concept coupled with 2n gametes. It demonstrates a means for the introgression of 1EBN species genes into group Tuberosum material.