Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

After mini tuber production in the tissue culture laboratory of Mekelle agricultural research centre, Ethiopia, seeds of the candidate varieties were taken for field evaluation purpose. The trial was carried out in Atsbi in 2010 under rain fed condition on five farmer?s fields. Three nationally released potato varieties (Gera, Guasa and Gudena) and one local check were included in the study as mentioned above. The management aspects were carried out as per the recommendation for potato cultivation. During the evaluation process, various data were taken and subjected in to analysis of variance. The analysis of variance showed that there is statistically significant difference among the varieties in plant height, stand count, tuber weight and number of tubers per plant, and marketable yield. Gera was the best variety with regard to different parameters as the variety showed significantly higher marketable yield (20.64 tons/ha) compared to Gudena and the local check. The local check gave the least marketable yield of 1.09 tons/ha and Guasa was the next superior variety. In general, planting the mini tubers is more advantageous. All the three improved potato varieties need to be promoted in highland areas as they all have surpassed the local variety.

Biography

Hintsa Gebru has completed his Masters degree from Mekelle University in 2012. He is now a crop researcher working under the Ethiopian agricultural research institute. He has two international and one locally published journals. He also has published more than 6 research works in proceeding form in Ethiopia.