Abstract
Experiments were conducted in New Caledonia to determine the effect of various storage treatments and three cycles of replanting with locally grown seed potatoes in comparison with imported seed on subequent field production. A combination of 98 days of diffused light storage (DLS), followed by 119 days of cold storage (CS), gave similar yields to 217 days of CS for the six cultivars evaluated. Reduced yields could be partially explained by accumulated degree-days during storage, sprout length, tuber weight loss and reduced stems plant -1 with longer DLS. The cultivars Serrana and B71-240.2 performed best with extended DLS. Four cultivars showed stable or improved yields with seed tubers that were twice multiplied locally compared with newly imported seed. Accumulated degree-days during the bulking phase of the seed crop in the field and during storage did not predict subequent field performance as cultivars differed in their response. Our results suggest that a combination of DLS and CS with appropriate cultivars can be recommended as a means whereby farmers could maintain quality seed tubers for several generations.
