STATUS OF POTATO STATUS OF POTATO VARIETY DEVELOPMENT VARIETY DEVELOPMENT AND SEED PRODUCTION AND SEED PRODUCTION

IN DR CONGOIN DR CONGO

IntroductionIntroduction

• Production zones: – highlands in eastern part of

country• Province Orientale

• Nord kivu

• Sud Kivu

• Katanga

– Western part of country• Bandundu

• Bas-Congo

Climatic conditionsClimatic conditions

Provinces Altitudes

(m)

Seasons

(planting)

Rainfall

(mm)

T˚ C

Nord Kivu 2000-2500 Oct.-Nov.

Febr., Apr.

1300-1800 14-16

Sud Kivu 1700-2300 Sept.-Oct.

March-Apr.

1200-1800 19-21

Katanga 1700-2000 Nov.-Febr. 1000-1600 18-19

Orientale 1700-1800 April

October

1100-1500 17-19

Variety evaluation, selection and release processVariety evaluation, selection and release process

I INTRODUCTORY PLOTS: In the research station; 1-5 tubers/clone/plot; no replication; 1 season.

II SELECTION PLOTS : In the research station; 5-10 tubers/clone/plot; 2-3 replications; local check is incorporated; 1 season.

III VARIETY TRIALS : in the station; 10-20 tubers/clone/plot; 3-4 replications; 2 seasons.

IV MULTILOCATIONAL : 4-6 locations through growing potato zones; TRIALS 10-15 tubers/clone/plot; 3 replications; 2 seasons

V ON-FARM TRIALS : In the farmers’ fields; 10-20 tubers/clone /farmer; 4-6 farmers by localities; each farmer is considered as a replication/location; 2 seasons.

VI RELEASE

Release requirementsRelease requirements

• High yield• Resistance/Tolerance to LB, BW, VIRUSES• Tuber characteristics:

– Skin color: pink, red, white– Shape : oblong, ovate, round, elliptic– dormancy:short(2 months), medium(3 months)

• Maturity: early(3 months), medium(3½ months)• Culinary qualities:consistency,mealy

Data collectionData collection

• In the steps I and II of evaluation, i.e. introductory plots and selection plots, especially for tuber families, attention is paid to :- plant height(score:1-5), 1=low; 5=high- Blooming(score:0-5), 0=absent;5=abundant- Vigor(score:1-9), 1=very weak; 9= very vigorous- Maturity(1-7), 1=late; 7=very early- Tuber characteristics: shape, skin color, eye deph

Data collection (cont’d)Data collection (cont’d)

• In the steps III, IV and V, the following data are collected:– Vigor(1-9)– Maturity(1-7)– Late blight(0-100):0=0%of leaves attacked;

100=100% of leaves destroyed– Yield and its components

Variety characteristics considered Variety characteristics considered by farmers and consumers for by farmers and consumers for

adoptionadoption• Farmers:

– High yield– Resistance/tolerance to diseases(LB,BW)– Earliness– Short dormancy– Good taste

• Consumers:– Size and shape– Skin color– Culinary qualities

Seed production schemesSeed production schemes

• There is no formal potato seed system in DR Congo yet.

• Nevertheless, INERA is the only national institution involved in pre-basic and basic seed production.

• There are some development projects,NGO’s and progressive farmers who are involved in potato seed production.

Seed production (cont’d)Seed production (cont’d)

• As there is no an elaborate seed certification program, INERA uses rigorously simples techniques of positive and negative selection to keep seed stocks in a healthy and highly productive state year after year.

• Seed growers apply the same techniques in their seed potato production plots.

Available facilities and staff in the Available facilities and staff in the potato programpotato program

• Facilities:– 1 computer– 1 vehicle– 2 diffused light stores– 2 motorcycles

• Staff:– 1 M.Sc. (Agronomist/Breeder)– 2 Ing.Agr.(A0 ,Post harvest/Food scientist)– 2 B.Sc.(A1 )– 2 Technicians(Diploma)

Potato varieties, their Potato varieties, their characteristicscharacteristics

Variety Clone

Nber

Skin color

Eye deph Vegetative cycle(days)

LB resistance

BW resistance

Resistance-Virus

Storability

Montsama

720049 Red Shallow to Medium

90-105 Moderate Susceptible Susceptible(PLRV)

Good

Sangema 800949 Pink Medium 100-115 Moderate Susceptible Susceptible Good

Enfula 380606.6 Pink Medium 90-105 Tolerant Susceptible Good

Mabondo R-8212-6 Red-White

Shallow to Medium

120-130 Resistant Tolerant Tolerant Good

Gahinga 720097 Red Medium 120-130 Tolerant to resistant

Susceptible Resistant Good

Nsimire 382171.4 White Shallow 100 Tolerant Tolerant Good

Cruza 148 720118 Yellow/pur

Ple eyes

Shallow 110-130 Tolerant Tolerant Susceptible Good

Murhula 386022.2 White Medium 90-105 Tolerant Susceptible Fair

Kinja 381381.20 Red Medium 90-105 Moderate Tolerant Good

Marita White Shallow to medium

90-105 Tolerant Tolerant Good

Seseni 800954 White Medium > 120 tolerant Susceptible Susceptible Good

Methods used for variety Methods used for variety maintenancemaintenance

• Germoplasme multiplication in the field year after year.

• Protection against pests by spraying.

• Application of positive selection.

Sources of seed planted by seed Sources of seed planted by seed multipliers multipliers

• Research stations.

• Own stocks

• NGOs

• Other producers

Seed storageSeed storage

Diffused light store at Mulungu Center

Seed storage (cont’d)Seed storage (cont’d)

Farmer’s diffused light store

Methods used to break seed Methods used to break seed dormancydormancy

Pit in which seed potatoes are buried to break dormancy

Bottlenecks in seed production and Bottlenecks in seed production and disseminationdissemination

• Political turmoil

• Lack of tissue culture lab and screenhouse.

• Lack of seed potato formal system