Create potato seeds like beans

Hundreds of seed potatoes fit in the palm of the hand, each bulb is just as small as a bean, but gives a very high yield. It is the product of Biotechnology Department, Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute.

Dr. Nguyen Tien Thinh of the Department of Biotechnology said that every year, Vietnam produces more than 10 million varieties of potato, but the rate of seed bulbs is quite high, productivity is low. Some countries such as the US and Japan have stimulated plant varieties by radiation, causing seeds to sprout at high rates, strong growth, leading to significant productivity gains. However, only small objects such as corn seeds, mustard seeds . can be irradiated.

Potatoes grown with natural varieties often yield low yields.(Photo: Meovathay)

"How do potatoes have a grain size equivalent to be treated with radiation?" . That is the concern of Dr. Thinh and his colleagues. They planted in vitro potato plants with the same genetic and physiological nature, then stimulated growth of this plant with low-dose gamma radiation. Then they processed the technique to create a green bean-sized potato, but the potential was strong. They can be grown hydroponic on sand to create disease-free tubers, or planted directly in the field.

Potato tubers often when taken out, only 2.5 tubers of seed, while micro products on up to 6.2 tubers, no disease. It also has the advantage of being hard to damage when transported because of the outer leather cover, which can be stored for a long time at low temperatures (4-6 degrees C).

Mr. Vo Khuong (36 C Nguyen Cong Tru, Ward 8, Da Lat), who planted a super-small potato tuber, said that every potato bush gave an average of 1.3 kg of tubers and dust up to 1.5 -2 kg. The yield increased nearly 2 times compared with natural varieties.