All about potatoes.pdf - Vegetableipmasia.org
All about potatoes.pdf - Vegetableipmasia.org
All about potatoes.pdf - Vegetableipmasia.org
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4.<br />
SEED PREPARATION AND PRODUCTION<br />
o Disadvantages: requires more than one storage place and is more labor<br />
intensive.<br />
Good storage conditions imply that:<br />
• Seed <strong>potatoes</strong> are stored in a purpose-built stand-alone storage area with good<br />
air circulation.<br />
• Average temperature in the storage area is kept to 18°C.<br />
• Light conditions are altered using the dark-light method.<br />
• Racks for spreading out seed tubers are used. <strong>All</strong>ow enough distance between<br />
the racks so you can turn over the seed tubers.<br />
• Seed tubers are not piled up to a depth of more than 20 cm.<br />
• Seed tubers are observed, sorted and turned over once a month.<br />
4.6.2 Pest and disease management during storage<br />
Pests and diseases that can affect tubers in storage are potato tuber moths, bacterial<br />
rot and mold. These diseases are carried by the tubers themselves or caught from<br />
other affected tubers.<br />
Take the following steps to manage pests and diseases in storage:<br />
• Build a good storage area with good air circulation and adjustable lighting. The<br />
temperature inside should not be hot and the air should not be too humid.<br />
• Clear away potato remnants, sacks or any other waste, as these can be breeding<br />
grounds for potato tuber moths.<br />
• Make routine observations looking for pest and disease infected tubers.<br />
• Manually remove and destroy seed tubers affected by pests and diseases.<br />
• If potato tuber moths are a problem, sprinkle GV onto the affected potato tubers.<br />
4.7 Quality seed production<br />
Tuber seed of high quality is best produced from mini-tubers or plantlets that are<br />
derived from either TPS plants or from tissue cultures. This requires special<br />
procedures and equipment, and is only done by farmers who devote their farming to<br />
seed production. The production of quality seed implies the following process:<br />
A. Determine location<br />
Location is all-important in success in quality seed production, because it requires<br />
more intensive handling. Ideal conditions for a location are:<br />
• Close to a water source to facilitate watering,<br />
• Not too far from home or the village to facilitate supervision,<br />
• Shade free so seedling growth is not disturbed. Seedbed nurseries should ideally<br />
run from east to west.<br />
B. Building a screenhouse<br />
A screen house has walls made from soft screen or gauze to prevent insects and<br />
other potentially harmful <strong>org</strong>anisms from entering. Made big enough to suit farmers’<br />
needs, a screen house is simple and inexpensive to build. The frame can be made<br />
from readily available bamboo. The roofs are made of clear plastic and the walls are<br />
closed using nylon gauze. A screen house should have a door that is easy to open<br />
and close. Racks are made inside the screen house for seedling trays.<br />
A HANDBOOK TO THE ECOLOGY AND INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF POTATO 21