International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.3, 113-122 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 114 2 Characteristics of High-Yielding Potato Cultivars 2.1 Genetic traits of high-yielding potato cultivars High-yielding potato cultivars often possess specific genetic traits that contribute to their productivity. These traits include the presence of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with key agronomic and morphological characteristics such as plant height, stem diameter, tuber starch content, and harvest index. Meta-analyses of QTLs have identified stable chromosomal regions linked to these traits, which are crucial for developing new high-yielding cultivars (Hajibarat et al., 2024). Genetic plasticity, which allows for a high degree of compatibility between genotype and environment, is a significant trait in high-yielding varieties (Sonets and Furdyha, 2022). 2.2 Physiological characteristics of high-yielding potato cultivars Physiological traits play a critical role in the yield potential of potato cultivars. High-yielding varieties often exhibit superior water-use efficiency (WUE), photosynthesis rates, and membrane stability under stress conditions. For instance, drought-tolerant genotypes like Bannock Russet and Nipigon show a 2-3 fold increase in instantaneous WUE under drought conditions compared to their well-watered controls (Gervais et al., 2021). Salt-tolerant genotypes maintain higher relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), and better osmotic adjustment through the accumulation of proline, which helps in sustaining tuber yield under salinity stress (Sanwal et al., 2022). 2.3 Adaptability and stress resistance Adaptability and stress resistance are crucial for the consistent performance of high-yielding potato cultivars across different environments. Varieties with high adaptive capacity and phenotypic stability, such as Prada and Challenger, demonstrate resilience to stressful environmental conditions, including drought and salinity. These cultivars often possess strong antioxidant defense systems and are capable of maintaining higher photosynthesis rates and stomatal conductance under stress. The ability to resist diseases like Fusarium solani further enhances the yield stability of these cultivars (Sonets et al., 2023). 3 Advances in Breeding High-Yielding Potato Cultivars 3.1 Application of genetic improvement technologies in breeding Genetic improvement technologies have significantly advanced the breeding of high-yielding potato cultivars. Traditional breeding methods, while effective, are often time-consuming and labor-intensive. The advent of genetic engineering has provided a more efficient pathway to introduce or modify genes of interest without altering the allelic combinations of successful commercial cultivars. Techniques such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, particle bombardment, and protoplast transfection have been widely used to incorporate desirable traits into the potato genome (Nahirñak et al., 2022). These methods have enabled the development of potato varieties with enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improved nutritional quality, and higher yield potential (Martínez-Prada et al., 2021). 3.2 Marker-assisted breeding techniques Marker-assisted breeding (MAB) has revolutionized the process of developing high-yielding potato cultivars by accelerating the selection of desirable traits. Advances in genomics have facilitated the identification of molecular markers associated with important quantitative trait loci (QTLs), which are crucial for traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and yield (Tiwari et al., 2020). The integration of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms has further enhanced the efficiency of MAB by providing a comprehensive understanding of genomic variations in potato germplasm. This approach allows breeders to stack multiple genes and QTLs, thereby developing cultivars with a combination of beneficial traits (Anbarasan and Ramesh, 2022). 3.3 Application of biotechnology (genetic modification and gene editing) Biotechnology, particularly genetic modification (GM) and gene editing, has opened new horizons for potato crop improvement. Techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and RNA interference (RNAi) have been successfully employed to enhance potato yield and quality (Hameed et al., 2018; Ahmad et al., 2022). These technologies allow for precise modifications of the potato genome, enabling the development of transgene-free products that
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==