Today, more than 240 potato varieties are presented on the Ukrainian market, of which about a third are of domestic selection, 75 varieties, or almost 80 percent, were created at the Potato Institute of NAAS, said the director of the Institute Mykola Furdyha. The focus is on early varieties, varieties intended for processing into chips and starch.
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This was stated in his interview for “Agribusiness today”.
“Potato breeding is not standing still – every year work is being done to improve varieties that meet the modern requirements of farmers, processing enterprises, and consumers. Today, breeders are working on creating early varieties, varieties suitable for processing into potato products, and with a high starch content,” noted Mykola Furdyha.
He explained that early varieties allow farmers to get a harvest in just 55-65 days after emergence, which is especially important for those who aim to be the first on the market with young potatoes.
“In turn, the potato processing industry requires varieties with stable biochemical indicators, low levels of reducing sugars, and a good flesh structure. It is also necessary to take into account the increased requirements for the size of tubers and resistance to mechanical damage,” the scientist pointed out.
Starch production requires varieties with a high content of dry matter (starch content – 20% and higher).