‘Nika’: a new mid-early potato cultivar

Abstract

Background. A new mid-early potato cultivar, ‘Nika’, is presented. It was developed at the Siberian Research Institute of Plant Production and Breeding. The cultivar was included in the State Register of Varieties and Hybrids of Agricultural Plants Admitted for Usage in Russia in 2025. ‘Nika’ addresses the critical need for potato cultivars adapted to Siberia’s harsh climate to enhance the region’s food security.

Materials and methods. The study involved cv. ‘Nika’, its parent forms (‘Nikulinsky’ and ‘Picasso’), and the mid-early reference cv. ‘Nevsky’. Hybridization was performed in 2002 following conventional potato breeding guidelines. Biochemical analysis of tubers was made in winter at the Institute’s analytical laboratory using A. I. Ermakov’s methodology. The planting scheme was standard (0.70 × 0.35 m), with three replications, using two-row plots, and 25 plants per row. The data were processed with the analysis of variance, employing the SNEDECOR software.

Results. ‘Nika’, obtained by inter-cultivar hybridization, outperforms ‘Nevsky’ across the key agronomic traits. Its average yield is 34.9 t/ha versus 30.0 t/ha for ‘Nevsky’, and its marketability is 92.7% versus 78.7%. Tuber weight, starch content (14.6% vs. 12.7%), and taste (8.5 vs. 7.3 points) are also superior. Its resistance to diseases and pests, including late blight, canker, and nematodes, matches or exceeds the reference, making ‘Nika’ highly promising for cultivation in Western and Eastern Siberia.

Conclusion. ‘Nika’ significantly surpasses its parent forms and the’ Nevsky’ reference in yield, quality, and resistance. Its inclusion in the State Register validates the success of the Siberian Institute’s long-term breeding efforts. This cultivar is recommended for widespread utilization in Russia’s agricultural sector, particularly in the challenging Siberian environments, due to its high productivity and adaptability.