Correlations between insect resistance and horticultural traits in potatoes
Velci Queiroz de Souza, Arione da Silva Pereira, Giovani Olegário da Silva, and Fernando Irajá Félix de Carvalho
The objective of this study was to determine relationships between insect resistance and some horticultural traits and the implications on selection. A potato population of 11 clonal families derived from crosses between insect resistant and genotypes adapted to the southern region of Brazil was used. The following traits were evaluated: plant size and vigor, incidence of insect attacks on leaves and tubers, tuber yield and appearance components. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations between leaf and tuber resistance were not significant for the population, while phenotypic correlations between the two resistance types were significant for individual families, with exception of the family originated from the cross involving ND263-32. The incidence of insect attacks on tubers was significantly correlated with tuber yield and appearance in families derived from crosses of NYL235-4. The manifold correlations of leaf resistance with horticultural traits for all families were significant and unfavorable.