Assessment some morphological and nutritional characteristics of a promising potato genotype, produced from somaclonal variation, compared with its parental cultivar

In a laboratory experiment conducted in Kabudarahang, Hamadan, a promising potato genotype was selected through somaclonal variation from Agria commercial cultivar, based on the callus size on growth media, shoot and root regeneration. A field experimental design with three replications was carried out to assess the new genotype along with its parental commercial cultivar for several morphological traits. Results revealed that total dry matter per plant (13.5%), total number of tubers (12.3%), tuber weight per plant (8.6%), and stolon length (4%) were significantly higher than in the new genotype. Also, days to 50% flowering (11.4%) and maturity date (7.6%) were significantly less in comparison with the parental cultivar. Several nutritional traits were also studied by which more antioxidant activity was observed on the new genotype (35.6%) than Agria cultivar (25.3%). Furthermore, the new genotype had a lower nitrite (81.2%) and higher iron (20.7%) and starch content (21.2%) comparing with Agria cultivar. Therefore, it seems that the new genotype has an acceptable potential for cultivation and replacement with existing cultivars.