An efficient potato pollen extractor for bulk pollen collection

Commercial quantities of hybrid TPS production require bulk collection of pollen from male lines. Current usage of a buzzer system by the potato workers has proved inefficient needing frequent repairs with continuous usage. Described is a modified device utilizing battery operated portable stirrer that allows more efficient extraction of potato pollen in large quantities without the disadvantages of a buzzer system.     

European Association for potato research

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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European Association for potato research

     

European association for potato research

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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European association for potato research

     

The common potato pollen collector modified for bulk pollen collection

When considerable amounts of pollen must be collected, the conventional buzzer and capsule become cumbersome and inefficient. Described is a modified device that can make bulk polien collection easier and more efficient.     

An agenda for future potato research

Summary The world is changing, and the rate of change is accelerating, nowhere moreso than in the pace of scientific discovery and the advance of technology. The last thirty years have also seen substantial global changes in potato production which are likely to continue if current projections are correct. Climate change is bound to affect local weather patterns, which will influence both the epidemiology of pests and pathogens and broaden their geographic range. An agenda for future research will of necessity include much of the current agenda; research into more sustainable systems; research into new and novel resistances to biotic and abiotic constraints, combining modern cell and molecular-based technologies with classical breeding approaches and research into the genetic and biochemical bases of low temperature sweetening and dormancy control, that should lead to varieties with superior storage characteristics, particularly for processing. However, a future agenda has to retain some flexibility and a component of speculative research. Perhaps potatoes could become a source of industrial feedstock or pharmaceuticals, perhaps there is a place for cultivars produced by botanic seed in Europe? The exciting thing about research is that we cannot always predict where it will lead, and a future agenda must not curb the enthusiasm of any young scientist by too rigidly adhering to that suggested here. it is essential that scientific options are kept open.     

Optical density variation in aerial photographs of potato plots infected withPhytophthora infestans

Optical density signatures were developed from infrared photographs of plots infected with late blight caused byPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) d By. Slight differences between optical density signatures of plots with different spray schedules preceded corresponding differences in infection levels that were not visually apparent on the date of photography but were visually apparent later. The technique of density signature development allowed consistent and quantitative differences to be recorded.     

A survey of recent Japanese research on dormancy in potato tubers

Summary A review is given of recent Japanese research on the physiology and biochemistry of dormancy in the potato tuber. The influence of natural growth inhibiting and stimulating compounds on tuberization and sprouting is discussed. The ratio between these growth-regulating substances probably controls the shift in relative activity of different respiratory enzyme systems occurring on the termination of dormancy.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird berichtet über neue physiologische und biochemische, in Japan durchgeführte Untersuchungen in bezug auf die Keimruhe der Kartoffelknolle. Die Einflüsse, welche natürlich vorkommende wachstumshemmende und-f?rdernde Stoffe auf die Knollenbildung und die Keimung ausüben, werden behandelt. Das Verh?ltnis zwischen diesen Wachstumsregulatoren beeinflusst die Ver?nderungen der relativen Aktivit?t der verschiedenen Atmungsenzymsysteme die bei der Beendung der Keimruhe auftreten.

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Résumé L'auteur nous renseigne sur les recherches physiologiques et biochimiques sur la dormance de la pomme de terre récemment effectuées au Japon. Il traite l'influence des substances naturelles inhibitrices ou stimulatrices de croissance sur la formation des tubercules et la germination. La proportion de substances de ces deux groupes influence la modification des rapports d'activités des systèmes respiratoires à la fin de la dormance.

     

The need for international research programmes on some potato pathogens

Summary Growers are being faced with a conflic between the effects of specialization on increasing pest and disease problems (particularly late blight, Colorado beetle, cyst nematodes and tuber moth), and public opinion that will force them to reduce the use of pesticides. For this disease and these pests international research programmes are needed to develop parental lines and cultivars with durable resistance that can be used world-wide. This account is based on ‘The potato in world perspective’, a paper read at the First World Potato Congress held on 8–10 July 1993 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.