Effect of environmental and cultural factors during growth of seed potato (Solanum tuberosum) crop on subsequent performance of progeny tubers as seed

The effect of different environmental and cultural factors during the production of seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) on the yield potential of progeny tubers was studied in 5 field trials conducted for 5 years. Higher temperature during the growth of seed crop caused 15-19% reduction in the yielding ability of progeny tubers. Different daylengths during seed-crop growth had no effect on the yield potential of progeny tubers. Seed produced at higher altitude (at Kufri) gave higher yield than that produced at lower altitude (at Modipuram). This difference in yield may be clue to difference in the physiological age of seed tubers at the time of planting rather than due to the altitude. The level of N fertilizer applied to the seed crop did not affect the yield potential of progeny tubers, nor did drought. The temperature during the growth of seed crop and the physiological age of the seed tubers were found the dominant factors that affect, the performance of progeny seed tubers.