The Udmurt Federal Research Center (UdmFRC) of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences hosted the ceremony of awarding the winners of the competition for choosing names for new import-substituting potato varieties bred by specialists from the Research Institute of Agriculture, reports press service of the center.
“First of all, I thank the residents of Udmurtia and the participants of today's meeting for their active participation. Of course, we did not expect such a big response: for each of the announced varieties, more than 70 variants of names were received, ”said Mikhail Ales, director of the UdmFRC, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in his welcoming speech.
He recalled that in the end, the name “Zanla” was chosen for variety No. 1 - it translates as “blue” and has a reference to another word - “Zanlagash” (in different dialects, the pronunciation is somewhat different): the first harvest, so that next year everything will be born well.
Grade No. 2 received the name "Zangari" - the word is quite well-known in Udmurtia, it translates as "blue, blue, lilac."
For variety No. 3, the name "Pervomai" was determined: in honor of the village of Pervomaisky, in which the Udmurt Research Institute of Agriculture operates and where these varieties were bred, and of course, in honor of everyone's favorite holiday.
Andrey Lednev, head of the Udmurt Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, UdmFITs, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told the participants of the event about the institute and the breeding work carried out in it, including potato varieties.
“We started breeding in 2005, and now the first varieties have finally appeared, after a very long, difficult, multi-stage stage, and therefore those varieties that have made it to this level, they really have a high yield, and food qualities, and look beautiful. Therefore, they deserve to be beautifully named and they ensured the food security of our Udmurt Republic. We hope that their areas will gradually increase not only in Udmurtia, but also in nearby regions, and these names will be found not only in Udmurtia, but also in nearby regions.”
Elzhibora Kasimova, junior researcher at the Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture UdmFITs Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who took part in breeding these varieties, said that recently the role of domestic breeding has increased many times, and potatoes are one of the main crops that provide food for the population of our country:
“In our institute, breeding work has been carried out for more than 15 years and it is carried out jointly with the leading breeding centers of Russia. Every year we analyze more than a thousand samples and select the best and most valuable from them. Promising variety samples, which have been given names, have passed a very strict selection and, so to speak, are at a low start to a full-fledged publication.”
She clarified that the promising Zanla variety has high late blight resistance and a yield of 30 tons per hectare. The Zangari variety, in addition to its unusual appearance, is very useful and contains many antioxidants. Variety "Pervomay" has a very high late blight resistance and a yield of 35 tons per hectare.
“All varieties are different, and each has its own zest, and now it has its own name thanks to this competition, which is very pleasing. Many thanks to the participants! It is very important for us to receive feedback. This means that our work is not in vain,” concluded Elzhibora Kasimova.
Mikhail Ales presented the winners with certificates of authorship of the names of new varieties, as well as certificates for the purchase of products of the Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture of the UdmFITs of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences for 1000 rubles.