Yield performance and Stability of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Genotypes Derived from Crossing for Variety Development in Ethiopia

Developing potato varieties through hybridization is an effective breeding method to improve productivity and quality of potato. The aim of this study was to develop a late blight tolerant, high-yielding, and stable potato variety. In 2015/2016, the Adet Agricultural Research Center began a potato crossing and produced 3600 genotypes. The best performing eleven genotypes were selected and tested against check varieties in national trials for 2020 and 2021. The lowest tuber yield (17.95 t ha⁻¹) was obtained with a local check while the highest yield (42.25 t ha-1) was observed with genotype AD501645.9 (produced from crossing of Belete x CIP396034.263). The AD501645.9 demonstrated 15 and 135.37% yield advantages over standard and local checks, respectively. AMMI analyses revealed significant (P < 0.01) on genotype, environment and genotype by environment interaction with respect to tuber yield. This is indicating that genotypes responded differently to the traits in each environment. Different stability measuring methods identified as genotype AD501645.9 was widely adaptable, stable and high yielder. In 2023 AD501645.9 was released as the new table variety ‘Worku’, the first variety ever developed from crossing and selection in Ethiopia.