Selection and use of disease-resistant potato varieties for industrial processing in Latin America

Basic Genetics

Technological

Innovation

Strategy 1. Resilient farms

1998

Closed

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Executive Summary

The project aimed to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of potato production in the participating countries by evaluating and selecting germplasm resistant to different bacterial, viral and fungal diseases and suitable for industrial use and processing of value-added products.

Currently, farmers produce varieties that do not fully meet the needs of processing plants and are highly susceptible to late blight (Phytophthora infestans), forcing them to make several pesticide applications during the growing cycle. With globalization, smallholder farmers may be excluded from the market, making it necessary for them to have varieties with lower pesticide demand and suitable to meet the requirements of the industry.

A similar methodology was followed in each of the countries, consisting of targeted cross-breeding and greenhouse and field evaluation and selection of agronomic, disease resistance and processing characteristics. In general, new clones and varieties were evaluated with the participation of farmers, consumers and industrial processors. In different locations and at different elevation levels, field evaluations with farmers and processors identified a significant number of clones and varieties with good yields, resistance to endemic diseases, and suitability for use as fried chips and sticks.

The technological solution

The technological solution has been based on the evaluation and conventional selection of potato germplasm that has generated new clones and varieties with desirable agronomic characteristics, disease resistance and suitability to the requirements of industrial processing for transformation into value-added products. The productive sector of reference is that of smallholder potato producers in different agroecological environments.

Results

The main result was the identification of disease-resistant clones, particularly late blight (Phytophthora infestans), with apparent appearance and characteristics for frying processing into commercial products such as flakes and sticks and with high yields. These results were found in all agroecological environments where the project was implemented in the participating countries.

Another important result has been the establishment of germplasm evaluation protocols for the purposes of this project that can be used in future work.

Beneficiaries

Although the number of potential beneficiaries has not been quantified, it is clear that the results will benefit thousands of small potato farmers who will have varieties with greater resistance to endemic diseases in different agroecosystems and that, due to their morphological and compositional characteristics, will better respond to the demands of the processing agents who demand varieties that are more suitable for the production of value-added products. An additional benefit will be the reduction in the application of pesticides for disease control.

Sustainable Development Goals

This project actively contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting more equitable, resilient, and sustainable regional development.