Derivation and Comparison of Androgenic and Gynogenic Monoploid Potato Families

Monopoloid potato (2n = 1x = 12) can be derived either paternally through anther/microspore culture or maternally through crossing with a haploid-inducing pollinator. Evidence from other genera suggests that androgenic and gynogenic haploid populations derived from the same parent may differ due to gametic selection and/or epigenetic factors. Our objectives were to derive androgenic and gynogenic monoploid populations from each of two diploid (2n = 2x = 24) Solanum phureja clones and compare their phenotypic characteristics in a greenhouse study. A haploid-inducing pollinator, S. phureja IVP101, was crossed to two selections of S. phureja (PP5 and BARD1-3). A total of 185 fruit was obtained from PP5 and 398 from BARD1-3, resulting from 85% and 65% fruit set, respectively. Seed lacking the dominant embryo spot marker carried by IVP101 were selected and germinated in vitro. From 29,300 PP5 x IVP101 seeds, 278 were spotless, resulting in 27 monoploids. Approximately 37 monoploids were obtained from the 99,500 BARD1-3 x IVP101 seeds of which 500 were spotless. In anther culture, PP5 and BARD1-3 yielded 0.16 and 1.67 embryos per anther respectively of which 51% and 44% of the regenerants were monoploid. A total of 32 anther-derived monoploids has been obtained from PP5 and 130 from BARD1-3. Rooted cuttings of 21 androgenic and 21 gynogenic PP5 monoploids were established in a greenhouse in each of three randomized complete blocks. Although the anther-derived monoploids appeared more vigorous, none of the differences between the two populations were significant. Flow cytometry revealed that anther derived progeny of PP5 and BARD1-3 had 3-8% greater nuclear DNA content than gynogenic monoploids derived from the same parental clones.