Evaluation of “UFV Aeroponic System” to Produce Basic Potato Seed Minitubers

We evaluated misting nozzle types and the coating on the bucket’s inner wall on the yield of basic potato seed minitubers. Tubers of potato cv. Agata were sprouted in a non-acclimatized greenhouse from June to September 2013. Six treatments were evaluated, three types of misting nozzle (32 L/h with anti-drip, 32 L/h without anti-drip, and 9 L/h without anti-drip) and two types of bucket inner lining, with and without polyurethane, with four replications. Dry weight of roots, stems and leaves besides minituber number and tuber fresh weight were evaluated. The “UFV Aeroponic System” effectively produces minitubers and should be equipped with a fogger with an outflow of 32 L/h without anti-drip and no inner lining of the bucket for optimal yield.     

Report on the Workshop “Research Challenges for the Seed Potato Sector”

Held on July 2017 during the 20^th EAPR Conference in Versailles, France, the workshop intended (1) to review—and exchange with participants—some recent advances and concerns for the seed potato sector (new regulations, seed health, multiplication schemes including true potato seed, seed crop management, etc.) and (2) to define the main challenges for future research and improvement for seed potatoes production and regulation systems to secure the whole chain of potato production.     

Genetic Variance Estimates in Heterogeneous Potato Populations Propagated from True Potato Seed(TPS)

Twenty nine cross populations developed according to line x tester mating design along with their twelve parents raised from true potato seeds, were used to study variability and correlation for seven characters. The range of variation for all the characters were found to be wide and pronounced which indicated that characters were quantitative in nature and were under polygenic control. For all the characters, greater portion of the total δ^2p was mostly contributed by the δ^2g. Among the seven characters, tuber weight per plant showed the highest δ^2g, PCV, GCV, H2b, GA and expected GA%.On the other hand, dry matter contents (%) showed the lowest H^2b. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients of plant height with no. of tubers per plant and tuber weight per plant; no. of branches per plant with no. of tubers per plant and tuber weight per plant were found to be significant and positive.     

Exceptional Potato Clones Selected by Filipino Farmers from True Potato Seed: Status after 30 Years

In a remote mountainous region of the Philippines, farmers selected their own clones from hybrid True Potato Seed (TPS) populations and have maintained them for 30 years without public support. In 1985, the International Potato Center (CIP) initiated on-farm TPS research in the Mount Kanlaon area to help farmers control or reduce the rates of bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Seedlings were either grown in nursery beds or as transplants in the field. At harvest, farmers not only harvested their crop for either food or for sale but also selected their preferred clones. A survey conducted in 2016 showed that farmers are still growing potato clones selected from TPS and that these clones had spread to numerous areas within and around Mount Kanlaon. Farmers kept these clones because it was profitable because they required minimum inputs and their resistance to various pests and diseases and adverse weather conditions. ELISA tests showed that these clones have excellent virus resistance which partially explains why these clones have been growing for 30 years without a formal seed production program or any government support. Parents used to develop the TPS hybrids included those with virus and R. solanacearum resistance.     

Rheological and Thermal Properties of Potato Starch

<正>Particle size, rheological and thermal properties of potato starch from Yunnan province of China was investigated. The particle size ranges from 0.429-102.3 μm determined by laser light-scatter. The major flow type of 6 w/v% potato starch was shear-thinning fluid even the shear rate up to 800·s-1, and the gel formed by 6 w/v% potato starch fell to weak gel for its little difference between G′ and G′′, high dependence on frequency and low value of G′(Pa). The hardness and cohesiveness of potato starch gel were 31.3 g and 131.9 g·s, respectively. The thermal properties of potato starch were also determined by DSC at the starch∶ water = 3∶ 1. The To, Tp, and △H of potato starch were 62.23℃, 67.31℃, and 2.22 J·g-1.     

Seeds for the Future = Challenges for Potato

The quality of seed potatoes is of paramount importance. The Netherlands and France are important seed potato exporters. In France, seed potato production is a well-organised and economically important sector in which genetic crop improvement and advancement of seed health are crucial objectives. There are strong debates in France on the use of new breeding techniques, which require special skills, equipment, facilities and investments, but which are not always accepted by the general public. The seed potato sector should prepare itself for a situation in which pests and diseases will adapt themselves to global change. Moreover, pests and diseases may thrive under the reduced use of chemical crop protectants. In this regard, it is essential to assess which multiplication techniques will have a better future: are we going to grow potatoes on the basis of seed potato schemes or on the basis of true potato seed? At the same time, there are many national and international changes in legislation about seed production. The seed potato sector must prepare itself for a diverse set of changes in a very dynamic world.     

Aboveground Characteristics, Yield Potential and Drought Tolerance in “Konyu” Potato Cultivars with Large Root Mass

To improve drought tolerance of potato, we bred four cultivars with large root mass and registered them as Konyu-1 to Konyu-4 in 2007. In this paper, we present the yield performance and the related aboveground characteristics of three Konyu cultivars and cv. Konafubuki (small root mass, one of the parents of these Konyu cultivars) in irrigated and droughted fields for 3 years. Consistent with our previous reports, we observed that the yield reduction in droughted fields relative to irrigated fields was less in Konyu cultivars than in Konafubuki. Konyu-2 showed the highest yield in both fields in all three experimental years. Konyu-2 and Konafubuki had a relatively high harvest index (HI) as a result of lower dry weight partitioning to the shoot regardless of water treatment. This characteristic contributed to the higher yield in the irrigated field in both cultivars compared with the other cultivars. In addition, Konyu-2 had a higher leaf/stem ratio coupled with a lower number of branches than the other cultivars. In the year of the most severe drought, the leaf area index remained below 3 (optimum value for intercept radiation) in Konafubuki, but not in Konyu-2 because of its high leaf/stem ratio. The present results suggest that in addition to large root mass, high HI coupled with high leaf/stem ratio with low number of branches may contribute to achieve high and stable yields in drought prone environments.     

Mr. Potato — Partner in the livestock business

American Journal of Potato Research -