The benefits of the Ural potato varieties were discussed today at an international meeting in Yekaterinburg. Breeders from Russia and China gathered in the village of Istok directly on the plantations of the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture.
Elena Shanina, head of the potato breeding and technological center of the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture: “The best Russian varieties have been created over the past five years, and the goal is to highlight those varieties that are competitive. The task was set for us by the president, we are implementing a program for potatoes - selection of potato seed production in the framework of import substitution. ”
In total, 64 varieties of potatoes are planted here, of which 60 are of domestic selection. Specialists will evaluate tubers for a number of signs: yield, early ripeness, disease resistance, starch, sugars and nitrates. A large-scale experiment is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture at the same time in five Russian regions - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tatarstan, Novosibirsk and the Urals. For three years, plant growers will conduct tests, and then give a comprehensive assessment of the growth of more than fifty varieties of potatoes in different areas. The work of the Russians is already interested in guests from the Middle Kingdom.
Zhang Jumei, director of the Sino-Russian Center of the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences: "We exchange materials of exemplary varieties and potatoes, including fodder crops for further study, for breeding."
Source: http://www.obltv.ru