Evaluation of Potato Genotypes for Processing Traits in Late Autumn

The present study was undertaken to evaluate potato genotypes for their suitability for processing when grown under different crop durations, i.e., E₁ (80 days' crop duration), E₂ (100 days' crop duration) and E₃ (120 days' crop duration). Among the three durations studied, E₃ yielded the highest processing-grade yield (q/ha), followed by E₂ and E₁. The crop in E₃ also exhibited high dry-matter content and low levels of reducing sugars compared to that in the other crop durations, which is desirable for processing. Among the cultivars under study, Kufri Badshah, Kufri Anand, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2, Kufri Ashoka and Kufri Jawahar gave the highest total tuber-yield. However, for processing-grade yield, cvs. Kufri Badshah, Kufri Chipsona-1 and Kufri Jawahar yielded significantly better than the mean, but cv. Kufri Chipsona-1 was the one found suitable for processing due to its high dry-matter content (22.07%), while, the other cultivars were found suitable for table purpose alone. Though cv. Kufri Chipsona-1 yielded higher (309.39 q/ha), its performance could not be predicted under various conditions owing to the data on regression coefficient (being less than one), and a significant deviation from regression. Cultivars Kufri Chipsona-1 and Kufri Chipsona-2 were found to be suitable for processing, with high tuber- and processing-grade yield, high dry-matter content, low amount of reducing sugars and phenols in the crop durations E₂ and E₃. Both these cultivars produced chips of acceptable colour in all three crop durations.