SEXUAL PROGENY OF SOMATIC HYBRIDS BETWEEN POTATO AND SOLANUM-BREVIDENS - POTENTIAL FOR USE IN BREEDING PROGRAMS

Hexaploid somatic hybrids have been obtained by fusion of protoplasts from Solanum brevidens (PI 218228, 2x=2n=24) and S. tuberosum (PI 203900 or cv. Russet Burbank; 2x=4n=48). In the work reported here, pentaploid progeny derived from sexual crosses between the somatic hybrids and the potato cultivar, Katahdin were assessed for transfer of disease resistances and improvement of agronomic traits. Segregation was noted in disease resistances to race 0 of Phytophthora infestans and to tuber soft rot caused by Erwinia spp., indicating that sexual transfer of traits captured by protoplast fusion had occurred. The pentaploid progeny showed substantial variation in and often improvement of some agronomic traits as compared to the somatic hybrids. The results indicate that interspecific somatic hybridization can produce material with potential for use in a potato breeding program.