10805: Organic Centre Wales Technical Note 2: Evaluation of Sárpo potato varieties, 2004

Anon, (February 2005) Organic Centre Wales Technical Note 2: Evaluation of Sárpo potato varieties, 2004. Organic Centre Wales.

Summary

Potato blight Phytophora infestans is a major limiting factor on potato production and is a particular problem for organic growers in Wales. The use of blight resistant varieties is an important strategy in the management of late blight. Hungarian Sárpo varieties appear to have greater late-blight resistance than any currently available to Welsh growers. In 2004, ADAS Pwllpeiran undertook field trials of 19 Sárpo varieties provided by the Sárvári Research Trust, with the following objectives:
􀂃 To examine the level of resistance to Phytophthora infestans in Sárpo potato cultivars
􀂃 To compare the level of resistance to Phytophthora infestans with commercially available cultivars in a high risk blight area
􀂃 To undertake potato variety trials, including assessment of yield, on an established certified organic holding
􀂃 To examine the vigour and growth of Sárpo cultivars under organic husbandry
Conclusions
􀂃 Each Sárpo cultivar showed high blight resistance
􀂃 Blight resistance in Sárpo cultivars was greater than in commercially available cultivars in the trial
􀂃 There was a considerable range in yield between cultivars
􀂃 Yield differences for commercial cultivars was associated with susceptibility to foliar blight
􀂃 Yield differences in Sárpo cultivars was associated with vigour/weed competition rather
than susceptibility to foliar blight.
Further details of these trials are presented within the technial note.

Archive Staff Only: edit this record