Seed Potato Production in Poland

The aim of this research was to analyze the regional distribution and quality of potato seed production in Poland from 2007 to 2011. The research was based on 10,559 tuber samples taken for the official post-harvest inspection assessment of seed potato lots. A very detailed map of seed plantation locations in Poland was created at the municipality level. The greatest concentration of seed production was from the northern and southern parts of Pomorskie Province, where many seed potatoes were cultivated, and in the north of the Zachodniopomorskie Province, around the towns of Koszalin and Ko?obrzeg. In both provinces, cultivars which were highly susceptible to PVY were cultivated on nearly half of the area. Over time a clear increase in the production of elite material and a decrease in those certified as the lowest category, CB, were observed. The quality of seed potato material was poorest following the harvest in 2008, because of high levels of virus infection; 30 % of the seed lots were not certified. Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) was recorded occasionally and it is at present of no economic importance in Poland. The role of potato virus Y (PVY), increased, probably because of the growth in the share of foreign cultivars (mainly Dutch) which are more susceptible to PVY. There were also changes in the populations of PVY strains. The share of Polish cultivars in potato seed production decreased to 36.3 % in 2012.