News on New Potato Varieties

Farmers, researchers and members of the public gathered at the University of Maine’s Aroostook Research Farm in Presque Isle last Wednesday to learn about the latest in potato research.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of Agriculture, Mr Mathew Mtigumwe, and the Dutch Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Jeroen Verheul, signed the document on behalf of the two governments.

La Resolución 65/2018 del Ministerio de Agroindustria autoriza la comercialización de una papa libre de virus PVY, desarrollada por el CONICET, que ahorra costos a los productores y optimiza la calidad del producto que llega al consumidor.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Albany, California, have found a way to streamline the process that scientists use to insert multiple genes into a crop plant. Simplot is planning to use it to introduce multiple genes into potatoes to make them resistant to late blight

J.R. Simplot has acquired a license for CRISPR-Cas9 and related gene editing tools. This provides Simplot with another avenue to add desirable traits to fruits and vegetables, including potatoes.

Earlier this month Texas A&M held its annual Potato Field Day where it presented a range of new potato varieties.

Victoria - a popular local potato variety in Uganda - is extremely susceptible to potato Late Blight disease, but a resistant GM version of this variety has been developed.
With testing almost complete, it is up to the government biosafety regulatory authorities in Uganda.

Typically, potatoes are multiplied by replanting a small potato tuber from last season, causing it to grow a new potato plant. Recently a new method of multiplication is making headlines: true potato seed (TPS) from hybrid potatoes.

The University of Maine has released a new gourmet potato variety, Pinto Gold.

USDA-AMS has proposed a rule to revise the classifications that determine the size requirements for potatoes grown in Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon. The proposal would also apply to all import of long type potatoes.

Potato Cooperative Agrico inaugurated its new greenhouse complex at the Agrico Research breeding station last Friday. This was followed by an Open Day on Saturday April 7 at the research station.

Tanzania has excelled in experimental trials of high yielding and disease resistant potato varieties under a climate smart agriculture programme aimed to improve food security.

The Solana Group - a German-based potato breeder and producer of seed potatoes - has strengthened its management team by appointing Tobias Mette in a newly created position, head of sales.

Potato cooperative Agrico has celebrated the start of the construction work of its 'Quality Centre' to monitor the quality and vitality of its potato varieties.

Potato growers and industry members gathered in Fredericton for the Potato Selection Release Open House on Wednesday to learn what new varieties are available for trial that could improve yields and taste – including the varieties used to make French fries.

Agrico presented its new generation potato varieties with high resistance to late blight (Phytophthora Infestans) at Fruit Logistica. On the first day of the fair, General Manager Jan van Hoogen explained the meaning of these new varieties.

Esta papa fue desarrollada por el Laboratorio de Biotecnologías de Plantas (LBP) del Centro de Investigaciones Agronómicas. Es una variedad resistente a las plagas más comunes (tizón tardío y el minador de la hoja), lo que reduce la cantidad de quimicos necesarios´para llevar el cultivo a buen término.

Chemicals in the leaves of potato plants, produced naturally by the plant, may hold the key to a new way to control Colorado potato beetles - a major pest for potato growers.