Results of Potato Hybridization Research in Mongolia

Abstract

Potato crossing success depends on several external factors including weather conditions, growing practices, and maintenance. To increase crossing success, breeders should have prior knowledge of the flowering intensity and duration of varieties, as well as the pollen fertility of male parents. Our experimental results demonstrated that both open-field weather and greenhouse conditions significantly influenced potato hybridization outcomes. When air humidity fell below 60 percent and temperatures exceeded +35°C, breeding success dropped below 10 percent. In 2015, the number of emasculated flowers and combinations reached their lowest values compared to other years, with flower buds drying out and dropping due to hot weather conditions.

To develop superior potato varieties adapted to Mongolian agro-ecological conditions, the hybridization method has been employed in the potato breeding program since 2014. During this period, we performed 223 cross combinations and emasculated 7,780 flowers. According to our hybridization results, 1,953 flowers set berries, achieving a crossing success rate of 24.1 percent. The year 2014 was particularly successful, with a crossing rate of 47.8 percent, while 2019 showed the lowest rate at 5.8 percent. In 2018, we emasculated 2,299 flowers and harvested 742 berries—the highest numbers recorded.