DEVELOPMENT OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM) VARIETIES WITH RESISTANCE TO LATE BLIGHT (PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS) FOR THE HIGHLANDS OF CAMEROON

C. Martin, D. Njualem
Late blight is probably the most important pathological problem affecting potato production in the highlands of Cameroon. All available local varieties are susceptible to it. As a result, one of the main priorities developed with the establishment of the IRA-CIP collaborative research agreement was the introduction and evaluation of genotypes with resistance to late blight. During the past 3 yr, over 10 000 genotypes have been evaluated. So far, a few clones are in the final stage of on-farm trials prior to release of a variety within the year. In the 1988 season, 95 advanced clones were introduced and evaluated at Upper Farm (2 000 m elevation). From these, 51 clones were selected, based on their resistance, high yields, and good agronomic traits. In 1989, the 51 clones were evaluated at two sites and after harvest, 33 clones were selected. In 1990 another 31 clones were evaluated at several locations and 10 clones were selected for on-farm trials throughout the country. The 10 selected clones have a late blight score of less than 4 in a scale of 1–9, with an average yield of over 680 g/plant (30 t/ha) with the highest one yielding 942 g/ plant as compared to previously imported varieties that do not exceed 500 g/plant (20 t/ha). After the on-farm trials, seeds of 2–3 clones would be multiplied at the IRA-CIP Project to start the distribution of improved seeds by the end of 1992.
Martin, C. and Njualem, D. (1994). DEVELOPMENT OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM) VARIETIES WITH RESISTANCE TO LATE BLIGHT (PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS) FOR THE HIGHLANDS OF CAMEROON. Acta Hortic. 380, 514-514
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1994.380.85
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1994.380.85
English

Acta Horticulturae