Scientists from Ecuador have developed a new variety of potatoes, moderately resistant to late blight with earlier ripening.
Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) introduced Iniap-Fatima, a new potato variety that is more disease resistant and can be harvested earlier, between 125 and 150 days, compared to other varieties requiring up to 180 days to mature.
The variety was obtained as a result of research conducted by the National Institute for Agricultural Research (Iniap), MAG, and Bolivar State University (UEB).
Iniap-Fatima potatoes have a pink peel and yellow flesh. Suitable for use in soups, for frying, mashed potatoes and other dishes.
The new variety is moderately resistant to diseases such as late blight (late blight) and is an alternative to improve the productivity of smallholder farmers. “Iniap-Fatima is the result of crossing Iniap-Gabriela with a hybrid (Solanum phureja) and a wild relative (Solanum paucissectum),” said Juan Manuel Dominguez, director of Iniap.
Seeds have already been delivered to local farmers.
Read more: https://www.agroxxi.ru
(Source and photo: www.elcomercio.com).