TRB unveils disease-resistant potato

The Tobacco Research Board has introduced potato mini tubers that develop potato seed for crops and plants that are resistant to a variety of viruses and diseases.

Developed under the plant tissue culture, a process of raising plants from single cells or tissues sections, the technique is widely used for large scale production of disease-free plants.

In an interview, TRB assistant manager Mr Oswell Mharapara said the projects being spearheaded at the Kutsaga Research Station involves the propagation of pathogen-free potato mini tubers to potential seed growers.

He said the project was still at its inception stage with only one farmer being contracted for the project.

“We are propagating potato mini tubers produced from tissue culture to produce generation zero and the farmers will then produce from generation 1-3. We are still in the process of engaging potential seed growers and at the moment we only have one,” he said.

Potatoes play a significant role in global food security and in Zimbabwe it is produced on an estimated 4 000 hectares.

However, according to the TRB, optimal production of the crop has been constrained by a myriad of factors, including unavailability of quality seed.

“Massive reduction in yield and quality attributable to continued use of diseased and biologically poor quality seed material are common,” said Mr Mharapara.

“This is because seed material is either exchanged between farmers through informal or less structured formal seed systems or the use of successive cycles of vegetative propagation material.”

The Irish potato, commonly grown in Zimbabwe, is also susceptible to many seed borne viral pathogens which may be present without symptoms, but causing decrease in yields.

“Yield reductions of as much as 80 percent attributable to the use of disease laden, poor seed material and old generation planting material have been reported by small holder farmers,” said Mr Mharapara.

“To evade this problem, a number of Zimbabwean potato growers had resorted to importing seed potato from neighbouring countries. Indications that are up to 85 percent of potato seed is being imported either formally or informally.”