Cultivated Solanum tuberosum L. as a source for the selection of cultivars adapted to hot climates

Abstract

The association of the capacity to form tubers under high temperature conditions (heat tolerance) with yielding capacity of several potato cultivars in hot seasons was demonstrated. Consequently, heat-tolerant clones were selected from seedlings of cultivated Solanum tuberosum L. under phytosanitary conditions which enabled the maintenance of disease-free clones. The use of S. tuberosum as a source of genetic variability, and heat tolerance as a selection criterion provides a simple procedure which could enhance the development of clones better adapted to hot environments.