Research results of potato hybrids of the first-generation nursery

New potato varieties as Zyryanets, Vychegodsky, and Pechorsky were obtained in the Komi Republic over the past decade by local potato breeding specialists. The breeding work aimed at new varieties adapted to the conditions of the North. It was necessary to select hybrids that demonstrated not only high yields and perfect tuber quality but also had early maturation features, neutral reaction to photoperiod duration, high storage properties and resistance to phytopathogens common in the region. At the experimental field of the Institute of Agrobiotechnologies at the Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Syktyvkar) in the first-generation nursery, 1003 potato hybrids were tested. The hybrids were combined as follows: Svitanok Kievsky×Labadia (№ 3501), Flamingo×Gala (№ 3516), CH991131×Ariel (№ 3526c), Udacha×Ricard (№ 3546), Vzryvnoj×Ricarda (№ 3548), Terra×Ricarda (№ 3556), Real×Bellarosa (№ 3609c), Donata×Bellarosa (№ 3610c), Krone×Mirage (№ 3644). According to the test results, 60 hybrids with economically valuable signs were selected for further breeding. Potato plants of the hybrid combination Krone×Mirage (№ 3644) did not pass the test and were rejected. Among the total number of selected hybrids, 26 showed yields of 480 g/plant and more, with an average weight of more than 50 g per tuber. According to the “negative” selection results, the highest combining ability (13 %) was shown by combination of the parent forms Flamingo×Gala. All selected hybrids, which passed the first examination stage by complex economically valuable signs, were winter-stored for further breeding testing in the second-generation hybrid nursery.