Lung'aho C., Nderitu S.K.N., Kabira J.N., El-Bedewy R., Olanya O.M., Walingo A.
National Potato Research Center, P.O. Box 338, Limuru, Kenya; Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 25, Kafr El-Zayat, Egypt; USDA-ARS, New England Plant Soil and Water Laboratory, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, United States
Lung'aho, C., National Potato Research Center, P.O. Box 338, Limuru, Kenya; Nderitu, S.K.N., National Potato Research Center, P.O. Box 338, Limuru, Kenya; Kabira, J.N., National Potato Research Center, P.O. Box 338, Limuru, Kenya; El-Bedewy, R., Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 25, Kafr El-Zayat, Egypt; Olanya, O.M., USDA-ARS, New England Plant Soil and Water Laboratory, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, United States; Walingo, A., National Potato Research Center, P.O. Box 338, Limuru, Kenya
To improve yield potential, potato varieties Kenya Faulu, Kenya Karibu, Kenya Mavuno and Kenya Sifa have been approved for variety release by the Kenya Variety Release Committee. The varieties are medium late to late maturing, high yielding with good tuber and culinary characteristics. The released varieties were selections from advanced potato clones KP90142.7, KP90172.34 and KP91301.10 derived from Population A (high levels of late blight resistance) in which materials for original crosses were obtained from the International Potato Center (CIP). The clone 720097.1 is a derivative of ex-Mexican origin, obtained from germplasm collections at CIP. In multi-location experiments conducted in various agro-ecological regions of Kenya, tuber yield of the newly released varieties were significantly greater than the resistant check variety Tigoni, as well as the other clones evaluated. The released varieties had good agronomic characteristics, high late blight tolerance and acceptable culinary properties. Deployment and utilization of the newly released varieties can greatly improve yield performance in the low input farming systems of Kenyan highlands. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.