Karnal centre evaluates clones of superior potatoes

Parveen Arora

Karnal, January 21

The Potato Technology Centre (PTC) in Shamgarh village in the district has embarked on a groundbreaking trial on the clones of superior potatoes in collaboration with the International Potato Centre. These clones have been brought from Lima in Peru.

New variety introduced

• The Potato Technology Centre has recently introduced a new potato variety, Kufri Uday, distinguished by its pink colour and enriched with high levels of iron and zinc
• Besides, it is a short-duration variety. The scientists involved in this collaborative effort anticipate promising results in the coming days
• The ongoing trial signifies a concerted effort for harnessing the latest scientific knowledge and technology for the betterment of agriculture and the well-being of farmers and society

The trial aims at exploring the potential yield, and adaptability of diverse potato varieties with unique characteristics such as biofortification, heat and drought tolerance, and shorter growth durations. They have recently introduced a new potato variety, Kufri Uday, distinguished by its pink colour and enriched with high levels of iron and zinc. Besides, it is a short-duration variety. The scientists involved in this collaborative effort anticipate promising results in the coming days. The ongoing trial signifies a concerted effort for harnessing the latest scientific knowledge and technology for the betterment of agriculture and the well-being of farmers and society.

“Under the project, we are working on the multiplication of heat-tolerant and biofortified clones. Many clones of superior potatoes have been brought from Lima in Peru, which have been cultivated for trial purposes to check their adaptability in the climatic conditions of the region. Kufri Lima and Kufri Udai have been released recently, and we are hopeful to get good results from other trials soon,” said Jitender Singh, a subject matter specialist at the PTC. He said if the trial went as per the plan, then these varieties would be sent to the central variety release committee for further processing.

Apart from that, the PTC has been producing seeds of different varieties like Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Udai, Kufri Sangam, and Kufri Mohan for table purposes, while Kufri Chipsona 1 and Kufri Frysona for processing, said Dr Jitender Mongia, Deputy Director Horticulture.

The centre is also producing minitubers in aeroponics and net houses, which help in the multiplication of good-quality seeds, the Deputy Director added.

The tissue culture lab has been established here with the capacity to produce 7.5 lakh micro-plants in a year, which are further planted in aeroponics and net houses for the minituber production. Apart from that, the centre also imparts training to the farmers for the production of good-quality potato seeds, he added.