Potatoes, ethnobotany, primitive varieties, ploidy.
SUMMARYIn field studies carried out at Cuyo-Cuyo, southern Peru, an area of traditional agriculture, the varietal and ploidy richness of two potato fields cultivated by the Quechua Indians was determined. Tetraploid primitive varieties were the most common, representing 95% of all plants sampled, but diploids and triploids were also found. The tuber crops agricultural system on the Incaic terraces was documented, and factors affecting the selection of potato varieties were assessed. Flavour and dry matter content were the most important quality factors indicated by local farmers.
Triploid-diploid crosses yielded nearly 75% aneuploid progeny. Of these, 60% were trisomics (2n = 25) and the rest ranged from 2n = 26 to 2n = 29. The most productive parents were those involving triploid S. maglia and diploid S. berthaultii. The initial trisomics often were not morphologically distinguishable from diploid sibs. Distinctive characteristics – such as slow growth; small, compact habit; lack of interstitial leaflets; and a bilobed stigma — were apparent in the backcross progenies. Most of the trisomics were fertile enough to be used in further genetic studies. Transmission of the extra chromosome through the female for three trisomics was 20–24%. Only primary trisomics were expected but meiotic study of seven clones indicated that all were secondary trisomics. The isochromosome may have originated from the tetraploids involved in the formation of the triploid clones or have been produced during meiosis of the triploid parent.
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