Starch viscosity measured with RVA as a tool for early selection of progenies for chip quality in a potato breeding program

Roberto Ruiz de Arcaute, Marta

Abstract

The development of potato cultivars with acceptable chipping quality is a key aspect of potato breeding as potato consumption is shifting from fresh potatoes to added-value processed potato products. In most cases, the assessment of chipping quality is still performed at advanced stages by using conventional time consuming, high sample demanding destructive methods. However, during the last decades, several studies have focused on applying alternative selection markers that could be used at early stages. In order to accelerate the process of evaluation and selection of potato genotypes with good chipping quality, a set of parental genotypes and progenies following an incomplete diallel mating design were selected from the breeding program of APPACALE SA (Burgos, Spain) and analyzed using a screening method based on starch viscosity measured with RVA (Rapid Visco Analyser). Significant correlations between Pasting Temperature, a starch viscosity parameter, and some chipping quality traits, such as Specific Gravity and Chip Colour, were found. Although the correlations between Pasting Temperature and chipping quality traits were not high enough to be a definitive selection tool, this approach could be considered a first step in the process of screening for quality in breeding programs, providing a solution to early selection for chip quality.