All about potatoes.pdf - Vegetableipmasia.org

4.
SEED PREPARATION AND PRODUCTION
4 SEED PREPARATION AND
PRODUCTION
4.1 Seed tubers and True Potato Seed
Farmers generally use seed tubers to plant a new crop. However, there is an
alternative known as True Potato Seed (TPS), which is the botanical seed of the
potato plant. TPS is already in use in several potato producing countries, including
India, Vietnam and Indonesia. TPS is not widely used in Indonesia due to a number
of drawbacks. Table 6 summarizes the pros and cons of tuber seed and TPS. The
remaining text of this chapter deals with seed tubers, generally referred to as ‘seed’.
Table 6: Advantages and disadvantages of potato tuber seed versus True Potato Seed
Advantages
Disadvantages
Tuber seed
• Planting technique is relatively easy
and familiar to farmers.
• Seed tubers generally originate from
local crops and are adapted to
prevailing conditions.
• Plants and tubers produced are the
same as parent plants.
• Crop growth duration is relatively short.
• Seeds planted are already sprouting
so there is a high likelihood they will
grow quickly.
• Production is stable when seeds are
selected properly
• Difficult for farmers to obtain quality
seed. Many of the seeds produced by
farmers are infected with viruses,
nematodes and potato tuber moth
larvae
• Seeds need to be stored for a long
time (3-4 months) before they are
ready for planting
• Seed storage and transportation is
relatively expensive
True Potato Seed
• Small quantity of seed required - 120
g/ha, meaning seed cost is relatively
low
• Can be sown when needed. Seeds
can be stored for long periods of time.
When farmers need them, they can be
immediately germinated. Germination
takes 21 days.
• Free from viruses and nematodes.
High production potential.
• Storage and transportation costs are
relatively low
• Cultivation is complicated and requires
a lot of attention, particularly during
germination. Specific training is
recommended
• Cultivation takes more than 120 days
• Some plants and tubers display
unusual characteristics
4.2 Seed generations
We often hear farmers using the terms G0, G1, G2, G3, etc., for potato seed.
Farmers consider G0 potatoes to be better than G1, G1 better than G2, and so on.
But what does G actually mean?
G stands for generation. G0 means generation 0, which is the original parenting
stock from botanical seed or tissue culture. Explanations for the meanings of G0, G1,
and so on, vary greatly from person to person. Some say that imported potatoes
fresh from their crates are G0, so when they are planted their produce is G1. Others
say that potatoes produced by tissue culture are G0 potatoes. A more important
factor than generation is the necessity for using healthy seed, which to a certain
extent is related to generation.
A HANDBOOK TO THE ECOLOGY AND INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF POTATO 17