Chipping ability, specific gravity and resistance to Pectobacterium carotovorum in advanced potato selections

The availability of potato varieties combining good tuber quality and resistance traits is very important for both processors and supermarkets. In the present study, post-harvest quality traits as well as resistance to tuber bacterial soft rot were evaluated in 42 advanced potato clones belonging to seven hybrid families. Differences in specific gravity were found among families and among clones, with about 30% of clones showing a high specific gravity (>1.080). Clones and varieties were assayed also for a comprehensive chipping profile. Overall, 43% of clones presented an acceptable chipping score (≤4.5) at harvest. In addition, following cold storage with and without reconditioning, various clones performed acceptably. Five clones from three families (Bolestra X MC 329, Spunta X Victoria and Majestic X Alcmaria) were classified as resistant to bacterial soft rot. An evaluation index is proposed to help identify clones with interesting combinations of traits.