METHOD FOR GROWING POTATO SEEDLINGS IN TRAYS

A method for growing potato seedlings in trays-without transplanting them into open ground – to produce single-tuber plants was investigated. The study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of this tray-based seedling cultivation technique. During the experiment, 1,187 seedlings were raised and 733 first-year hybrids were obtained from 20 crossing combinations under greenhouse conditions. Field trials confirmed the viability of the resulting single-tuber plants and their conformity to standard development metrics. This cultivation method is proposed as an alternative to traditional approaches. Its efficiency stems from the elimination of the intermediate plant transplanting stage. This approach holds practical significance, enabling the optimization of the breeding process during the seedling stage while maintaining the quality of the resulting material.