Screening of suitable potato lines for flowering and berry setting under low temperature (below 8°C) conditions

In the eastern plains, the temperature goes down up to 2-3°C during December and January months (when the plants attain the proper growth and flowering), hampering the flowering and berry setting in the TPS parental lines. The genotype expressing flowering and berry setting in these conditions can be useful parental material for the TPS programme. Out of 48 genotypes under study, only five genotypes, namely, KP15C2, KP15C3, KP15C4, KP15C5 and D-150 flowered and set berries with seeds after pollination. Genotype KP15C3 flowered profusely with more number of berries and seeds per plant at < 8ºC. The studies showed that TPS production could be successfully done in plains even at low temperature and sunshine hours with the use of the above selected parental lines.