Tuberosum x Tuberosum and Tuberosum x Andigena potato hybrids: comparisons of families and parents, and breeding strategies for Andigena potatoes in long-day temperate environments.

Tuberosum x Tuberosum families and Tuberosum x long-day adapted Andigena families are compared with each other and with their parents using multivariate analyses. The Tuberosum x Tuberosum families, representative of those used in present-day breeding programs, have lower mean tuber weights, marketable yields and total yields than their parents, and a trend towards the Andigena clones which represent their putative ancestors. The Tuberosum x Andigena families are superior to the Tuberosum x Tuberosum families in total yield and tuber number, but have reduced tuber size, later maturity and more persistent stolons. The characteristics of the Andigena parents dominate the inter-Group hybrids. The multivariate analyses facilitate the identification of superior hybrid families and superior parents. The results are discussed in the context of further Andigena selection, cytoplasmic male sterility, and reciprocal differences in inter-Group hybrid families. Future breeding strategies are proposed.