The potential of biofortified crops and their critical role in Rwandan diets motivated the Ministry of Agriculture through Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) to adopt a national policy of combating micronutrients’ deficiencies by developing and releasing fortified crop varieties. In this context, 37 biofortified potato (Solanum tuberosum) clones were introduced from the International Potato Center (CIP) and evaluated for two growing seasons in four agroecological zones in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The evaluation was conducted on the vegetative development traits, root yield (ton/ha), dry matter content (%), iron and zinc (mg/kg) content, flesh color, processing qualities, and taste. The average yield varied between 11.5 and 20.8 ton/ha for biofortified potato clones, while the local checks revealed a yield ranging between 21.5 and 21.8 ton/ha. The dry matter content was between 18.9% and 25.9%, while the local check revealed a dry matter content ranging between 22.4% and 25.4%. The iron and zinc contents ranging between 11.51–27.84 mg/kg and 22.39–43.57 mg/kg was observed on tested bifortifed potato clones, while these contents were ranging between 5.23–8.12 mg/kg and 19.17–21.88 mg/kg for local checks, respectively. Five biofortified clones (CIP312507.311, CIP312764.013, CIP312721.169, CIP312735.253, and CIP312682.042) revealed a chipping quality similar to Kinigi, the most popular potato variety in Rwanda. Regarding the culinary test, the clone CIP312725.057 revealed a bitter taste, 10 clones were ranked as very well, and two clones were ranked as good. Regarding the farmers’ feedback, seven clones, namely, CIP312764.013, CIP312721.169, CIP312735.253, CIP312682.042, CIP312721.038, CIP312621.069, and CIP312637.132, were ranked as very good including the local checks Kinigi and Kirundo. Three clones (CIP312507.311, CIP312725.048, and CIP312721.286) were ranked as good, while the clones CIP312507.312 and CIP312725.057 were ranked as bad. In this study, 10 good clones were selected for further evaluation for release as the first biofortified potato varieties in Rwanda or used in crossing blocks for population improvement.
Objective: To evaluate the yield performance of new potato clones under Rwanda climatic conditions in attempt for developing new potato varieties with market lead traits, that can replace the existing having more than 20 years old. Methodology and Results: the Potato Sub-Program of Rwanda agriculture and Animal Resources Development board (RAB) in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP), has introduced and evaluated the yield performance of six advanced potato clones(CIP388676.1, CIP392657.8, CIP398190.89, CIP392797.22, CIP398193.511, and CIP394611.112), in comparison with most popular local varieties (Kinigi and Kirundo)under Rwanda climatic conditions. Trials were established at Kinini, Rwerere, and Tamira RAB Research Station located in a randomized complete block design with three replications for two growing seasons. The analysis of variance revealed high significant effects (p-value < 0.01) of genotype, site, season, genotype x site, and site x season on total tuber yields. A positive correlation of 90% was observed between number of tuber per plant and yield of no marketable roots. Across sites and seasons genotypes showed variation in the performance. The high average yields of 47.08 and 54.58 t/ha were observed at Rwerere, in season 2017B and season 2018A, respectively. The Kinigi site had tuber yields of 32.02 and 36.44 t/ha, while Tamira site has 20.25 and 35.71 t/ha for season 2017B and season 2018A, respectively. The Rwerere site revealed a high dry matter content compare to other sites. The dry matter was 22.
In attempt to develop new potato varieties with the current market lead traits, nine Dutch potato varieties namely Fabula, Panamela, Sagitta, Challenger, Sifra, Rosi, Memphis, Taurus and Derby, and International Potato Center (CIP) varieties Kinigi and Kirundo were evaluated in three Rwandan sites for two growing seasons in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with tree replications. The data collected consists of plant vigor, late blight incidence and severity, yields and processing qualities. The collected data were submitted to analysis of variance. The results showed that variety, site, season, and all interactions of main variation factors have significant effects on total yields. The average total yields of CIP varieties were extremely high and significantly different compared to tested Dutch varieties. These yields were 34.2 and 30.7 tons ha-1 for Kirundo and Kinigi, respectively. The best performing among tested Dutch varieties were Panamela with 20.2 tons ha-1 , Rosi with 16.4 ton ha-1 , Sagita with 15.8 tons ha-1 , and Taurus with 14.4 tons ha-1. The CIP varieties Kinigi (7.2 score) and Kirundo (7.2 score) revealed a big plant vigour compared to tested Dutch varieties. Among Dutch varieties, Taurus (6.9 score) and Panamela (6.2 score) showed the highest plant vogour. CIP varieties Kinigi and Kirundo, and Dutch varieties Sifra and Taurus revealed the same trends for late blight (less than 30% of plants revealed late blight symptoms. Taurus, Challenger, and panamela revealed the highest dry matter content of 22.4, 21.7, and 20.0%, respectively. This dry matter content is high compared to CIP varieties Kinigi (19.20%), commonly used for French fries and crisps in Rwanda. Dutch varieties Rosi, Challenger and Taurus revealed crisps with yellow color without rolling. Panamela and Kinigi showed crisps with similar characteristics. The results from this study suggested that any private company planning to invest in potato processing for French fries and crisps, the Dutch varieties such as Rosi, Challenger, Taurus and Panamela are good candidates for raw materials.
Five new potato clones (CIP393280.64, CIP393371.58, CIP393077.159, CIP396018.241, and CIP398190.615) and two local checks (Kinigi and Kirundo) were evaluated in fourteen sites under the National Performance Trials (NPTs) for two growing seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications to identify their yield performance, adaptability and processing qualities. The data related to yield (number and weight of tubers per plot, marketable and unmarketable yields, and total yields) and processing qualities (tuber shape and depth of eyes, dry matter content, frying time, crisps color, taste, crunch, waste percentage, and conversion rate) were collected and analysed using GenStat 20th edition. The analysis of variance revealed significant effects of clone, site, and clone by site interaction on fresh tuber yield. Across all sites for both seasons, the clones CIP393077.159, CIP393371.58, and CIP393280.64 revealed the yields of 31, 28. and 27 tons/ha that fall in the same range of yields as local checks Kinigi and Kirundo with 30 and 35 tons/ha, respectively. Based on yield stability index (YSI) ranking combining high yield and stability, the first four genotypes were Kirundo, CIP393077.159, CIP39601.241, and CIP393371.58 with YSI of 16.6, 11.3, 9.1, and 7.3, respectively. All the new tested potato clones revealed higher dry matter (DM) content that was above 18% of total fresh weight except CIP396018.241 which had a DM content of 17% of fresh weight. This dry matter content was comparable with the dry matter content of local check Kinigi, the most popular varieties variety used for French fries in Rwanda. Based on crisps color, the clones CIP393077.159, CIP393280.64, CIP396018.241, CIP398190.615 showed the same trend as local check Kinigi. The crisps from these clones were ranked as good or very good for taste and crunch. The results of this study highlighted that the clones CIP393371.58 and CIP393077.159 can be recommended as candidate for new varieties for high fresh tuber yields; while the clones CIP398190.615, CIP396018.241, and CIP393280.64 can be recommended as candidate for new potato varieties for crisps and French fries.
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