Comparison of Leaf Area Index, Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of 13 New Potato Cultivars under semi-arid and cold Climatic Conditions of Razan

In order to achieve optimum quantitative and qualitative yield of potato in each region, new cultivars need to be compared. As such, this study has been carried out to compare 13 new potato cultivars along with two cultivars of Agria and Banba with each other to identify suitable cultivars for leaf area index, agronomic, and qualitative traits under climatic conditions of Razan. The statistical design, used in the present study, has been complete randomized block with three replications. Results show that Manito cultivar has reached the maximum leaf area index later than other cultivars, having 12 tubers per plant, which is 112% and 83% superior to Banba and Agria, respectively. Also, Natascha cultivar with a leaf area index of 3.65 has been 57% and 19% leafier than Agria and Banba, respectively. Tuber weight in Ottawa (157.8 g per tuber) has been 70.5% and 20.4% greater than Agria and Banba, respectively. Manito cultivar yields 71399 kg/ha, which is 123% more than Agria and 70% than Banba. Protein percentage of tubers in this study do not differ among the potato cultivars, while the difference is significant among the potato cultivars in tuber starch percentage and the highest values belong to Manito (18.09%) and Ottawa and Concordia cultivars, in the second and place. Generally, Manitou, Caruso, and Faluca cultivars are recommended for planting in the Razan on the basis of traits of maximum leaf area index, number of tubers per plant, and tuber yield.