At the end of December, the "Potato System" magazine organized a webinar dedicated to modern promising potato varieties. The webinar was attended by representatives of well-known breeding and seed companies operating in the Russian market. Each company told the audience about the benefits and features of the two varieties in their lineup.
We decided to keep this useful information for our readers by publishing it on the site as a series of articles.
The third article in this series is devoted to new products on the market - GRAND and RAINBOW varieties. Speaker: Rail Rakhimov, head of the crop production department, MOLYANOV AGRO GROUP LLC
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MOLYANOV AGRO GROUP LLC was established in 2016. The company is engaged in seed production of potatoes of the most popular varieties on the market.
The cultivation of seed material is carried out under license agreements.
When choosing a variety, the focus is on manufacturability. The line includes only those “candidates” that meet strict requirements: high yield, high marketability (maximum number of tubers of 50+ caliber per bush), resistance to mechanical damage, and disease resistance.
At the moment, the company offers seed material of the varieties KRONE, CAPRI, SANYAVA, LISANA, DZHUVEL, etc.
Today we want to draw the attention of potato growers to two new achievements of breeding.
GRANDEE - a universal variety of Russian selection (originators: VNIIKH named after A.G. Lorkh and LLC "Agrocenter" Korenevo ").
Mid-season (growing season: 80-90 days), multi-tuber (more than 20 tubers per bush). Yield potential: 400-600 c / ha, subject to technology. Skin color: red. Flesh: light yellow.
The tubers have a rounded-oval shape, eyes on the surface, suitable for mechanized cleaning.
A versatile variety that can be used for processing. Suitable for the production of dry potatoes. Starch content is over 18%, dry matter content is over 20%.
It has a very long shelf life.
Another feature: high resistance to late blight. Immune resistance to the Y-virus (thanks to this, the variety can be used for two to three years with minimal degeneration).
Features of agricultural technology
To obtain a good harvest of maximum marketability, it is necessary to observe the planting rate: up to 40 thousand plants / ha. Planting depth is normal. The fertilizer application rate is standard: NPK - 120 kg for a.m., phosphorus - 100 kg for a.m., potassium - 280 kg for a.m.
Resistant to the use of metribuzin in seedlings.
There are peculiarities in preparation for harvesting: due to the fact that the plant is distinguished by its powerful high tops, it is necessary to apply a combined preparation for harvesting, to combine chemical and mechanical methods of removing the tops: first, carry out processing with Reglon (half rate, within 1 kg / ha) , after three to four days - mechanical removal of tops (cut 15-20 cm), and immediately after that - re-treatment with a desiccant (the remaining dose). And literally in two weeks, you can carry out mechanized harvesting and get tubers with a high storage potential.
RAINBOW - a novelty of French selection (originator: STATION DE RECHERCHE DU COMITE NORD), entered in the State Register in 2020. Positioned as a premium variety for delivery to supermarkets (suitable for washing, cleaning and packaging).
It belongs to the early ripeness group (75-80 days), large tuberous. The tubers have an attractive oval shape, the eyes are small, the skin is smooth, and the marketability is high. This is a real find for table potato growers.
The variety is highly resistant to late blight and viral diseases.
Resistant to mechanical damage.
Features of agricultural technology
Recommended planting density for harvesting marketable potatoes: up to 40 thousand plants / ha.
Responsive to nitrogen fertilization. Resistant to the use of metribuzin at the inputs. To form a good peel, it is necessary to add a fractional desiccant at intervals of 5-7 days, then, if necessary, mechanical harvesting of the tops.
Another important feature of this variety: by the end of the growing season, it very quickly forms a marketable tuber. Therefore, seed potato growers working with this variety must monitor the growing season in order to obtain the product of the required fraction.