Seed potato technology

This book provides basic knowledge on how to produce, multiply and use propagation material in seed potato production and supply systems world wide. Healthy, vigorous seed tubers are essential in potato production. Producing them used to be expensive and difficult. Multiplication rates in the field are low, seed-borne diseases are numerous and seed tubers lose quality during storage between growing seasons. Recently, novel methods of multiplication have revolutionised the seed potato industry. This has resulted in a diversity of seed production systems adjusted to the local potential and needs. This book summarises the current knowledge and assesses the efficient use of modern technology in different stages of seed production. It describes in detail what seed quality means, how (pre- )basic seed can be produced, how this can be multiplied, and how seed health is maintained. It also describes diverse examples of seed supply systems.

Preface; Acknowledgements; Contents; 1. Introduction; 2. Yield formation of a seed potato crop; 3. Development of cultivars; 4. Quality characteristics of seed tubers; 5. Control and manipulation of physiological seed tuber quality; 6. Control and manipulation of seed tuber health; 7. Production of pre-basic seed; 8. Agronomy of seed potato production; 9. True potato seed (TPS); 10. Quality control and seed certification; 11. Seed supply systems; 12. Examples of seed supply systems; References; Appendix 1. The principal pathogenic agents causing losses in potato and some main characteristics.

Appendix 2. Yield reduction caused by secondary virus infectionThe authors; Subject index.