INDUCED MUTATIONS FOR REDUCED TUBER GLYCOALKALOID CONTENT IN POTATOES

Mutation breeding was used to produce mutants of the potato breeding s election NDA1725-1 with reduced levels of tuber glycoalkaloids. Excise d tuber eye-pieces were exposed to 35 Gy of gamma rays from a Co-60 so urce. In the M(1)V(1), leaf tissue was screened using high-performance thin layer chromatography and each plant given a relative score based on a subjective rating of band intensity. Tubers were harvested from all plants that produced leaves with relatively low levels of glycoalk aloids. Tuber glycoalkaloids were quantified in the M(1)V(2) and M(1)V (3) using high-performance liquid chromatography, and 35% and 23% of c lones with the lowest glycoalkaloid content were selected for further evaluation in each generation, respectively. In the M(1)V(4), M(1)V(5) and M(1)V(6), selection was based on statistically significant differ ences between the mutant clones and the controls for glycoalkaloid con tent, as determined using a gravimetric quantification method, as well as on agronomic and quality characteristics. At the end of six clonal generations three selections exhibited acceptable levels of tuber gly coalkaloids and retained enough of the parent clone's exceptional trai ls to have potential in the commercial potato chip (crisp) industry.