Improving main agronomic characters of dihaploids with 2n gametes by meansof sexual hybridisation and anther culture of potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Three hybrid populations were obtained from 4x-2x, 2x-4x, and 2x-2x crosses by using two tetraploids (Solanum tuberosum L.) and three diploid hybrids of closely related species which can produce 2n gametes. Forty-three dihapl oid plantlets were regenerated from embryoids of anthers of the three tetra ploid hybrids by anther culture in vitro. Three of them could produce 2n po llen and five of them could produce 2n eggs. The morphological and agronomi c characters of these dihaploids with 2n gametes were compared with those o f their diploid and tetraploid parents. Two dihaploid clones with 2n gamete s and improved agronomic characters were obtained. The results suggest that ploidy manipulation through sexual polyploidisation and dihaploid inductio n by anther culture is an effective method to obtain dihaploid clones with 2n gametes in combination with good tuber yield and tuber appearance in pot ato.