The purpose of this research was to assess the effectiveness of early selection for tuber specific gravity, tuber shape index, and reducing sugars content in the tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clones. The experiments were conducted in the south of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Correlation coefficients were determined for the seedling (S) and first (FCG) and second (SCG) clonal generations at the clones and families levels. In general, correlation coefficients were significant but of low magnitude. There was a tendency of higher coefficients for the families, indicating low efficiency in doing early selection of the clones. However, mild selection at the family level could be done to eliminate the worst families. The correlation coefficient for tuber shape index (length/diameter) between S and FCG was 0.51 at the clone level and 0.77 at the family level, showing the feasibility to select for this trait in the early generations, both for clones and families.
Solanum tuberosum; specific gravity; tuber shape; reducing sugars
