Does climate change also have an influence on variety development? TRADE AND MARKET I NG Jan Jansen (m), Europlant: ‘Robust varieties are becoming more and more important’ ‘Due to global warming, there are more and more delta areas in the world and what we see there is a gradual salinisation of agricultural areas’, is the conclusion of Jan Jansen, Director of Europlant Aardappel BV in Heerenveen. ‘Moreover, the changes in climate also increase the importance of Phytophthora resistance. A year like the last one is fantastic for our selection work, because more numbers with a weakness for growth cracks, for example, can be eliminated. Over the years, we’ve come to appreciate the robust varieties. This year has highlighted this fact even more. Not every farmer can irrigate his crop, also in Europe. So, you need varieties that limit your yield and quality risks. Characteristics such as drought tolerance will then become important. To give an example, we have two varieties in our product range that score well on this point, and they really proved themselves last year. They are the Ottawa and the Donata, and they’re both suitable for chips. Both varieties are doing equally well. They both produce consistent yields in changing weather conditions and don’t suffer from growth cracks. The Ottawa grows better in light soils such as sand and peat, and the Donata performs better in sandy loam and clay soils. Another circumstance we have to deal with as a result of climate change is the warmer winter months, which result in an increase in nematode problems. A next step in our breeding is to develop varieties that contain nematode resistances. Preferably varieties with a mix of resistance against Globodera Pallida and Rostochiensis. That’s what we’re working on right now. Hans Rommens, Interseed Holland: ‘We'll test varieties under extremely dry, hot, cold as well as wet weather conditions' provides very robust varieties, which we can easily plant in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. A fine example is the Miss Malina. This French-fry potato is very stable in changeable weather conditions both as regards yield and frying quality. This year, the yields were above-average, and the variety hardly showed any growth cracks. With the Miss Malina, the consumption grower can produce a reliable product for the French-fry industry for many years to come. In that sense, you could call a variety like this the result of climate-resilient breeding.’ ● Leo Hanse and Jaap Delleman ‘I’m not a breeder’, Hans Rommens, Manager of Interseed Holland in Dronten apologises before answering the question. ‘This means that I don’t know to what extent climate change is part of our breeding programme. I do know though that the Interseed trial fields can be found throughout Europe and that we test our varieties under many different climate conditions. So, varieties are tested under extremely dry, hot, cold as well as wet weather conditions. Weak examples are immediately dropped during selections. What I see is that this ultimately Potato World 2017 • number 2 39 Pagina 38
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