Post by Tom Wagner on Sept 27, 2014 22:39:26 GMT -8
I was taking the time to answer Marches questions and my computer became wonky with repeated copies of posts. I tried to do an edit but my error of reading the instructions eliminated the thread instead of the post.
Here is a copy of what Marches said....luckily I had a copy on my paste history.
This forum is called TaterMater for a reason. It is a rare forum that concentrates on one breeder and an assortment of friends, strangers, guests, etc., chiming in or asking questions. I tend to breed equally diploids and tetraploids.
Although diploids have only half the chromosomes they have to be outbred with few exceptions. Constantly crossing with lots of diploids around keeps the diversity alive and well. Tettraploids, Tets, can self themselves and that reduces the diversity by half...so it all evens out.
That is a personal choice but if you are trying to reproduce success, tets seem to be the way to go.
Real cold storage temps work for diploids but most folks don't have that. I am a proponent of developing winter cropping of diploids to return fresh tubers up north just in time for replanting.
The very nature of tets is that everything gets larger...tubers, leaves, etc., and tets are already adapted to long days and having to survive a long winters rest. Crossing diploid pollen to tet flowers can get some seedling lines to have larger tubers and better dormancy.
Yes to disease and taste. Other things are shape, colors, nutrition, size, and history.
Short and terse response but it will have to do.
Here is a copy of what Marches said....luckily I had a copy on my paste history.
Are most potatoes bred on here diploids?
This forum is called TaterMater for a reason. It is a rare forum that concentrates on one breeder and an assortment of friends, strangers, guests, etc., chiming in or asking questions. I tend to breed equally diploids and tetraploids.
Read that they're less variable than tetraploids and phureja is diploid.
Although diploids have only half the chromosomes they have to be outbred with few exceptions. Constantly crossing with lots of diploids around keeps the diversity alive and well. Tettraploids, Tets, can self themselves and that reduces the diversity by half...so it all evens out.
Should I breed tetraploids since most commercial lines are tetraploid?
That is a personal choice but if you are trying to reproduce success, tets seem to be the way to go.
And how do diploids stay dormant in storage? I read that phureja sprouts immediately from tubers once it is harvested. Can they be stored for very long?
Real cold storage temps work for diploids but most folks don't have that. I am a proponent of developing winter cropping of diploids to return fresh tubers up north just in time for replanting.
Does one have to breed with tuberosum tetraploids to get large tubers, plants adapted to long days and staying dormant in storage?
The very nature of tets is that everything gets larger...tubers, leaves, etc., and tets are already adapted to long days and having to survive a long winters rest. Crossing diploid pollen to tet flowers can get some seedling lines to have larger tubers and better dormancy.
What does phureja actually bring to the table? Disease resistance? Taste?
Yes to disease and taste. Other things are shape, colors, nutrition, size, and history.
Short and terse response but it will have to do.
