k CULTIVATION AND TECHNOLOGY Crisis or not, without breeding there are no solutions ‘For Morocco, kinned Spunta’ variety and it opens doors for the introduction of new varieties’, is the experience of Michel de Nijs from Warmerhuizen. ‘A reasonably new variety that got a free ride from the Spunta is the Red Valentine. As the name already indicates, it’s a red-skinned potato. The colour is more or less the only difference with the Spunta, because it’s an extremely stress-resistant variety that yields high with big tubers. A country that, both literally and figuratively, has a strong taste for the Red Valentine is Morocco, De Nijs tells us. That country markets both white and red-skinned consumption potatoes. For example, they’ve been importing the Désirée variety for years, but that older variety yields 20 percent less than the new Red Valentine. In countries like Morocco, they compare everything with the Spunta. Yield, shape and taste, they must be the same or better. In some areas in Morocco we already have Red Valentine yields that outnumber the Spunta yields. Guus Heselmans, Meijer Potato: ‘ Rock is the example of a crisis-proof solution’ ‘What’s the answer to the crisis?’ That’s a very good question, says breeder Guus Heselmans from Meijer Potato in Rilland.’ He argues that there are three aspects to the answer. ‘One of the problems in the sector relates to the availability of fresh water, the second concerns the pests and diseases that the sector has to deal with, and the last one, what the question was really about, is the current consumption prices. For us breeders it’s important that we try to avoid these crisis issues. The solutions that we, as a breeding station, try to find relate, among other things, to our company slogan “Use What You Produce”. Which means: avoid waste streams as much as possible or in other words: make the most optimal use of a product. You can focus your breeding work on an issue like that. So, provide optimum dry matter content, frying colour, length, storage time and so forth. We’re trying to avoid some of those possible problems for the sector by optimising the varieties. As a recent example of a crisis-proof solution, we’re showcasing our new Rock variety. This is a combination table/French-fry variety that also has ABC and D resistance against potato cyst nematode. The Rock can provide a valuable product for try out. Those who’ve done this with the Obama, in the middle of a field of Agata, all say: ”get me seed for 10 hectares next year”. both market segments. It yields big tubers, consistent in size and a beautiful skin that also peels easily. There’s no grey discolouration during boiling or frying and it retains its good taste. In view of its underwater weight, consistent colour and excellent storage quality, it’s an ideal dual-purpose variety. If you only want to grow French-fry potatoes or table potatoes, you can easily steer the crop in either direction. It’s also a slightly floury potato, which makes the Rock excellent for home frying, too. You can grow the variety on sandy, clay and loam soils. Potato World 2015 • number 2 25 Pagina 24
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