Forty years of potato research: highlights, achievements and prospects

Abstract

SummaryThe highlights and achievements of 40 years of potato research in agronomy: genetics, breeding and varietal assessment: physiology: pathology (including nematology); virology: engineering: and utilization are reviewed and the prospects for new developments are analysed. In all disciplines progress has been impressive and has changed the potato industry dramatically. Yet, some old problems remain unsolved (Phytophthora infestans, blackspot) or are returning (cyst and other nematodes) and new problems have arisen (e.g. volunteer potatoes, new strains of PVY, virulent cold-resistant strains of Pseudomonas solanacearum). The potato industry faces new challenges from society (environmentally safe production) and the consumers (improved quality). Farmers, researchers and processors have access to many new exciting techniques, tools and opportunities, such as precision farming, genetic engineering, molecular detection and analytical techniques, integrated chain management, novel preservation and processing methods. The problems and opportunities both warrant a continued effort in potato research.

Effect of NO3‐ supply on N metabolism of potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) with special focus on the tubers

“…Modern potato cultivars require high rates of fertilizer N (Errebhi et al . 1999) and potato is one of the arable crops most blamed for ground water pollution (Struik et al . 1997).…”

Influence of Nitrogen Nutrition Management on Biomass Partitioning and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Indices in Hydroponically Grown Potato

“…Although the quantity of N absorbed by potato plants depends on many variables, including the stage of plant growth, variety, and environmental conditions, it is generally assumed that tuber yield is enhanced by N application, whether in hydroponic culture (Cao and Tibbitts, 1998) or in the fi eld (Errebhi et al, 1998). Modern cultivars demonstrate positive tuber yield response to high rates of applied N (Errebhi et al, 1999;Ewing and Struik, 1992;Struik et al, 1997). However, potato is generally regarded as an ineffi cient user of N partly due to shallow rooting (Lesczyhsik and Tanner, 1976;Roberts et al, 1992), and N not taken up by the potato crop may be leached into the groundwater (Gastal and Lemaire, 2002) in the fi eld or lost to volatilization in hydroponic culture (Stutte, 1996).…”

“…However, potato is generally regarded as an ineffi cient user of N partly due to shallow rooting (Lesczyhsik and Tanner, 1976;Roberts et al, 1992), and N not taken up by the potato crop may be leached into the groundwater (Gastal and Lemaire, 2002) in the fi eld or lost to volatilization in hydroponic culture (Stutte, 1996). Especially on sandy coarse-textured soils, over fertilization with N increases the likelihood of contaminating groundwater resources (Richards et al, 1990;Struik et al, 1997). This is particularly true in irrigated potato areas where NO 3 -has been found in surveys of shallow observation wells (Klaseus et al, 1988).…”

Social-institutional problem dimensions of late blight and bacterial wilt of potato in Ethiopia : The contribution of social learning and communicative interventions to collective action

“…Management methods for late blight include genetic, chemical, biological and cultural methods (Bouws and Finckh, 2008;Ke-qiang and Forrer, 2001;Struik et al, 1997). Genetic control method refers to the use of potato varieties having resistance to the pathogen that causes the disease.…”

“…But systemic fungicides are absorbed through the plant foliage or roots and they are capable to protect leaves formed after the application (Cohen and Coffey, 1986). Biological methods consist of reducing late blight infection by using live microorganisms that have antagonistic effects against Phytophthora infestans (Ke-qiang and Forrer, 2001;Struik et al, 1997). Practicality and effectiveness of biological methods are, however, uncertain in the context of smallholder farmers (Ke-qiang and Forrer, 2001).…”