Averis Seeds will be working together with the hybrid potato breeding company Solynta on the hybrid breeding of starch potato varieties, the companies have announced. It’s the latest announcement in a project that could mark the beginning of a major “revolution” in how potatoes are grown around the world, they added.
Hybrid breeding facilitates significantly faster development of new sustainable potato varieties compared to conventional breeding and is an important accelerator for making starch potato cultivation more sustainable, as it allows for a faster response to challenges such as changing weather conditions and potato diseases that constantly adapt to resistances.
Growing better varieties faster reduces the need for crop protection products, and yields can be increased while using fertilizers more effectively.
Johan Hopman, breeding & research manager at Averis, said now that he has can see the successful results of hybrid breeding, the time has come to use this technique for breeding starch potato varieties as well.
For over 12 years, Solynta has been working on obtaining hybrid true potato seed. Hybrid breeding makes it possible to better control the progress of varietal properties. Naturally occurring properties such as resistance to drought, pests and diseases can be quickly introgressed. The result is a significantly shorter development process and faster progress with the properties that are of value to Avebe’s growers, the companies said.
Canadian Potato Facts
Potatoes are grown in every province in Canada. Production is distributed in Atlantic Canada (39.9%), Central Canada (22.2%) and Western Canada (37.9%) by area. 65% percent of Canadian-grown potatoes are used for processing (frozen French fries, potato chips, flakes and other dried products such as starch, etc.), 21% for fresh table consumption, and 14% for seed.
Potatoes contribute to a healthy diet. A medium potato (148 g) provides an excellent source of potassium (720 mg or 21% Daily Value), vitamin C (45% DV), fibre (16% DV) and iron (10% DV) while containing no fat or sodium. —Canadian Horticultural Council
Top 10 registered seed potato varieties grown in Canada:
- Russet Burbank
- Goldrush
- HO2000
- Norland
- Ranger Russet
- Shepody
- Eva
- Dakota Russet
- Atlantic
- Chieftain
Source of statistics: Canadian Horticultural Council & Government of Canada Potato Market Information Review
