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Enhancing the productivity of seed potato production systems by improving the size of the tubers is a primary concern. Punjab, a state located in the northwest region of India, meets 60% of the country's seed requirements. In order to optimize the morpho‐physiological aspects, root structure, and overall yield of seed‐sized tubers, research trials were carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana over two consecutive years. The trial consisted of 11 different treatments and was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The application of Gibberellic acid at a concentration of 200 ppm, at 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS), resulted in significantly higher yields of seed‐sized tubers measuring <4.5 cm. This treatment also exhibited superior root architecture parameters and accumulation of dry matter, outperforming all other growth regulation treatments. Compared to the untreated control group, the Gibberellic acid application led to a remarkable increase of 45.9% and 39.8% in seed‐sized tuber yields. Furthermore, it significantly boosted the protein, starch, antioxidant (total phenols), sugar (total and reducing), and mineral content (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in the tubers, surpassing the effects of all other growth regulation treatments. These results suggested that the exogenous use of gibberellic acid (200 ppm) at 45 and 60 DAS substantially improved the physiology, root architecture, and yield of seed‐sized tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed potato crop in the north-western parts of India is largely grown after paddy in strict compliance to various components of the Seed Plot Technique, with planting during the first fortnight of October and haulm-cutting in the last week of December for minimum exposure to virus-transmitting aphid vectors. Owing to the government restrictions on the date of seeding and transplanting of paddy to maintain the level of the underground water table, the harvesting of paddy often gets delayed in the region. However, quality seed potatoes can be produced only if the planting and haulm cutting dates are adjusted as per the activity of virus-transmitting insect vectors. Therefore, we conducted field experiments for 2 years to study the effect of planting dates on plant growth parameters and tuber yield of two popular cultivars Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Jyoti. Vector populations were also examined in all the planting dates until dehaulming. Results showed that the yield of seed-size tubers was at par for the first three dates of planting (15 Oct., 25 Oct., and 05 Nov.). The number and yield of over-sized tubers decreased sharply, and that of under-sized tubers increased with progressive delay in planting. The activity of virus-transmitting aphids and whiteflies remained low from mid-November to mid-January, with an appreciable effect of the daily temperature. Hence, planting up to the last week of October and dehaulming before the second week of January do not affect the yield of seed-size tubers significantly. On the other hand, to ensure the quality of the product, continuous monitoring of vector activity is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphid transmitted viruses are the most significant constraint for quality seed potato production. Potato virus Y and Potato leaf roll virus are the most important aphid transmitted viruses in potato, which can be transmitted by a large number of aphid species. In order to determine the species composition of aphids infesting potato crops and to determine their viruliferous nature, aphid samples were collected from all the potatoes growing zones in India. Fourteen distinct aphid species were identified from 541 samples using morphological and molecular characterization. The identified species include Aphis craccivora, A. gossypii, A. fabae, A. spiraecola, Aulacorthum solani, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale, and Myzus persicae among the colonizing species and A. nerii, R. padi, R. maidis, Hyadaphis coriandri, Brevicoryne brassicae, and Lipaphis erysimi among the non-colonizing species. M. persicae and A. gossypii were the most abundant and most widespread species on potato in the country. Based on whole body testing of aphid samples through RT-PCR, M. persicae, A. gossypii, A. solani, and M. euphorbiae were found positive for PVY while M. persicae and A. gossypii tested positive for PLRV, which could potentially transmit the respective viruses in potato crops. The current study revealed that aphid species other than M. persicae could be important in determining the virus incidence in seed crops in the country. Therefore, management decisions should include such information to maintain the health standard of seed stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, potatoes are cultivated mainly in the sub-tropical Indo-Gangetic plains during winter. The winged morphs of peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) appear on the potato crops in the first fortnight of November and continue to reproduce parthenogenetically till March and disappear afterward. To determine its thermal requirement, we evaluated the immature development and survival of M. persicae on potato at eleven constant temperatures, for both the apterous and alate morphs. Myzus persicae nymphs developed to the adult stage at constant temperatures from 5.4 to 31 °C but failed to achieve adult emergence at 32 °C, the highest temperature. However, winged adults were produced only at set temperatures from 5.4 to 26.4 °C. The immature survival rate was high at 7.3 through 26.4 °C and decreased considerably beyond this range. The lower temperature thresholds (Tmin) were estimated as 4.13 ± 0.38 °C and 4.35 ± 0.74 °C for apterae and alatae, respectively. The thermal requirement (degree days) for the development of alate morphs was found appreciably higher in comparison to apterae, 128.20 ± 7.06 and 108.69 ± 3.07, respectively. Among the non-linear models, the estimates obtained from Bayoh model reflected the actual experimental value of temperature thresholds. Based on the accumulated degree day's calculation, the alate morphs could complete 8.9 – 10.9 generations while the apterous morphs could complete 10.7 – 13.1 generations in the whole growing season. This information will help understand the population growth of the aphid in the sub-tropical plains and improve the efficacy of management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seed potato cost is very important component in total potato production and account for 30 to 70% which varies depending on the country or region. Tuber size is an important factor to decide the seed requirement per unit area. Seed size affects total yield, graded or marketable tuber yields. Standard seed tuber of 25-125 g weight (30-55 mm) is known as seed size tubers in India. Obtaining seed size tuber is important for achieving higher potential of the cultivars. The tuber size profile can be reduced or expanded by altering inter and intra row seed spacing, controlling days of growth by planting late or killing vines/haulm early, regulating inputs like fertilizer and water etc. An ideal combination of plant population, row width, and in-row seed spacing for a particular variety were the major factors for optimizing tuber size. Variation in tuber bulking ability in different genotypes results in variation in proportion of seed size tubers among different varieties. 70-80 days haulm killing found most suitable for getting higher proportion of seed size tubers in high bulking varieties. Proper management of N, P and K fertilizers is considered very important to maximize tuber yield and attain desirable quality. Variability in nitrogen dose/ha was observed which ranged from 100-150 between different regions of the world. Hence proper combination of above Agro-techniques should be adopted in seed production programme as per the region for getting higher proportion of seed size/plantable seed tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of poor quality seed has been envisaged as one of the major causes of low productivity of potato in India. Keeping these facts under consideration, a trial on raising the quality seed potatoes using "Seed Plot Technique" was taken up at five locations in the Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh, India involving a small group of farmers cultivating potato as cash crop. The complete package under "Seed Plot Technique" was assessed and capacity building interventions were also implemented. Performance of "Seed Plot Technique was compared with the conventional/ commonly followed practices of seed potato production in the region. Technical and socio-psychological impact as well as the sustainability of this technique was ascertained on the established indicators. Results showed that Seed Plot Technique was highly effective in improving the quality of seed potatoes as it reduced the aphid population by 73.7 to 74.1%, white fly population by 68.1 to 86.9%, and mosaic incidence by 71.0 to 75.8.0%, besides, achieving bumper crop yield with an increase of 10.3 to 16.3% over the conventional system). The technique was also found to be cost effective with higher B: C ratio of 2.6 and sustainable score (80) over the conventional system (B: C ratio=2.0; score 53). These, findings have wider implication for establishment of replicable and remunerative agri-business model of commercial seed potato production at the farmer's level in the plains of Uttar Pradesh using the innovative seed plot technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karnataka produces 1.4% of potato from 4.1% national potato area. Hassan is the largest potato producing district in the State accounting for 20% production and 56% crop area in Karnataka. Potato productivity ACGRs in Hassan (-12%) and Karnataka (-7%) over 1999-00 to 2009-10 and triennium ending 2009-10 average of 2.8 and 6.1 t/ha, respectively, depict a pathetic and precarious situation of financial health of potato farmers in the area. However, Karnataka in general and Hassan in particular, produce off-season potato suitable for processing industry. Keeping sustainability of crop husbandry in the area and growth of Indian potato processing industry into mind, a joint survey by CIP- SWCA, New Delhi, and CPRI, Shimla, was carried out in Hassan to find out reasons responsible for such situation. Acute resource paucity and unavailability of quality seed potato at affordable prices were identified as one of the important reasons. This study analyses seed potato utilization pattern and its impact on farmers' profitability in Hassan and Karnataka. The research paper provides detailed information on seed potato source, variety wise seed use rate, seed replacement rate, seed size, variety wise potato yield and adoption and impact of seed potato quality on farmers' profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the field experiment about the impact of planting date on potato seed yield in the southern hill region of India. The experiment, conducted at the Central Potato Research Station, found that planting date and variety can affect the seed size tuber yields and the total number of tubers. It suggested that seed potato crop should be planted around April 21 to produce higher number of seed size tubers in potato cultivars Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Giriraj.