Table Of ContentP.C. Struik and
S.G. Wiersema
Seed potato technology
Seed
potato
technology
P.C. Struik and
S.G. Wiersema
Wageningen Academic
P u b l i s h e r s
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Preface
The potato is one of the most important food crops in the world. This statement can be
illustrated by the following facts. First of all, the potato crop is grown on a significant scale in
more than 130 countries. Secondly, potato tubers are consumed by one billion people worldwide.
Finally, one third of the total world production originates from developing countries.
Being a (mainly) vegetatively propagated crop, many of the numerous diseases and pests that
affect the potato crop worldwide, are transferred from one generation to the next or may even
accumulate in the seed and thereby spread. This makes seed tuber health an important issue. Seed
tubers also respond to the abiotic conditions during their production and storage. These conditions
determine the useable seed yield. But the effects of these conditions are also reflected in the
physiological quality of the seed tubers, as expressed in their ability to produce a vigorous crop.
Both quality aspects are crucial factors in the productivity of the crop originating from the
seed tubers. Quality does not come cheaply. Cost of high-quality seed tubers continues to
be a major cost factor in potato production, especially in developing countries, because
they are bulky and the rate of multiplication is low.
Especially in the Third World, potato is grown in many different environments and cultivars
must be highly adapted to perform well. Good seed technology and distribution systems are
therefore essential for the introduction and maintenance of local cultivars.
Developments in the potato industry have been rapid during the last 50 years, especially with
respect to the production of pre-basic and basic seed, and systems of multiplication. Well-
functioning formal seed systems have been established in many countries all over the world.
Production of in vitro plantlets, microtubers and minitubers have become technologies that are
widely available and adaptable to local needs and possibilities. True potato seed technology
has become a low cost alternative to the seed tuber technology and this true potato seed
technology is used to produce healthy starting material in an increasing number of countries.
Studies on seed supply systems have shown that informal seed systems based on traditional
seed flows also have potential for improving seed quality, particularly through the
application of appropriate seed technology and interaction with formal seed programmes.
Given these revolutionary developments, this book that reviews the current state of the art
of the knowledge and technologies relating to seed production technology in all its stages
is timely and fulfils a widely felt need. The authors of the book are well-known experts in
the field of potato science. They have used their long-term experience as potato researchers,
as lecturers in the International Potato Courses in Wageningen and at potato courses of
various agricultural universities, and their wide networks in international potato science and
practice, to transform the complex and fragmented information into a book that is of
interest to all who are interested in this fascinating vegetatively propagated food crop.
Dr Hubert Zandstra
Director-General of the International Potato Center, CIP,
Lima, Peru
Seed potato technology 7
Acknowledgements
The production of this book would never have started without the preliminary work carried
out by Ir. Remco Roeland. He compiled a lot of valuable information and drafted several
incipient chapters. The authors very much appreciate his valuable contribution to this book.
The authors want to express their gratitude to the referees for their diligence and unselfish
work. They have provided valuable comments on drafts of the separate chapters or reviewed
the entire book.
By listing them we want to acknowledge that this book greatly gained by their efforts.
The referees and reviewers were:
C.J.M. Almekinders
H.P. Beukema
D.O. Caldiz
A. Devaux
H. van de Haar
P.M. Harris
A.J. Haverkort
J.G.T. Hermsen
R.C.B. Hutten
M.K. van Ittersum
A.F.M. Jacobs
P.M. Kerkhoven
P.L. Kooman
T.J. Kuipers
W.J.M. Lommen
C.D. van Loon
J.P. van Loon
W. Reust
P. Schmiediche
K. Scholte
M. Upadhya
H. Zandstra
E. Zimnoch-Guzowska
The English text was corrected by Sarah van Otterloo-Butler.
This book would also not have been written without the confidence and continuous support
of the Publisher. The co-operation with Wageningen Pers has been pleasant and fruitful.
Especially the interaction with Mr Mike Jacobs contributed considerably to the joy with
which we have worked on the manuscript of this book.
The authors
Seed potato technology 9
