Potatoes are one of the most common row crops in agriculture. In Russia, potatoes are cultivated in all regions of the country, and the area under this crop is more than 1,07 million hectares. In 2023, 5454,52 hectares of seed potatoes were planted in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the share of varietal plantings accounted for slightly more than 50%, 14,8% of plantings were carried out with original and elite seeds.
To successfully grow potatoes, you need to grow or buy high-quality and healthy seed material. To assess the quality of seed potatoes, tuber analysis is carried out. Tuber analysis is an integral part of the pre-sowing preparation of potatoes. This procedure allows you to evaluate and select the best tubers to ensure high yield quality and plant resistance to diseases and pests.
In 2023, specialists from the testing laboratory of the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhoztsentr" in the Krasnoyarsk Territory analyzed 54 samples of seed potatoes for compliance with the requirements of GOST 33996-2016. The most common varieties among agricultural producers in the region in 2023 were: Gala, Vega, Red Scarlett, Queen Anna, Lady Claire, Colomba, Kemerovochanin, Kuznechanka, Nevsky, Aramis and others.
Over the period of 2024, specialists from the testing laboratory tested 16 samples of seed potatoes. The bulk of applications for tuber analysis are expected to be received in April, before the start of planting. It should be noted that the validity period of the document on the quality of seed potatoes is 30 calendar days from the date of tuber analysis. In this regard, agricultural producers should pay attention to the validity period of certificates and marks in test reports about the validity period of the document.
We also remind you that according to the requirements of GOST 33996-2016, seed potatoes have only six stages of reproduction in the field and two stages of reproduction after the elite (first and second reproduction, respectively). In this connection, it is necessary to constantly update seed material and monitor the emergence of new promising varieties. Every year, new potato varieties appear, including domestic varieties, recommended for cultivation in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.