Self-control of disease-free potato varieties

The Institute of Agricultural Biology, Hanoi Agricultural University has completed the process of producing disease-free potato varieties, limiting the situation that the country often has to import plant varieties.

Potato is a propagating plant of tubers, very susceptible to virus infection, pathogenic bacteria leading to seed degeneration, yield reduction and quality after each planting season. The completion of the process of producing disease-free potato seed by tissue culture has allowed Vietnam to actively source potato seeds to meet national standards.

Harvesting potatoes (Photo Institute of food crops and food plants)

Domestically produced seedlings not only provide disease-free quality equivalent to imported tubers, but the price is only 50-70% compared to foreign seed potatoes (seed potatoes imported from Europe are not less than 1USD / kg).

Currently, the Institute of Agricultural Biology has implemented the process of cultivating disease-free potato seed tissue for many localities such as Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang . Currently, the whole country There are about 1000 ha of agricultural land applying this process in winter food production, with an average yield of 18-20 tons / ha.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thach said that with the successful production of disease-free potato varieties, it has contributed to prove that Vietnam's agriculture industry can apply many scientific and technological advances in breeding many difficult crops. At the same time, self-mastering technology, pushing back the situation of the country often having to import plant varieties.