Soltan Basiev, Gorsky State Agrarian University
In order for a potato variety to be in demand among farmers of the North Caucasian Federal District, it must be early in terms of ripening, canteen for its intended purpose, resistant to the golden nematode and have white flesh. However, this set of characteristics, of course, is not complete and not universal for a region that includes territories with very different natural and climatic conditions. Read more about this in an interview with Soltan Basiev, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Agriculture, Plant Growing, Breeding and Seed Growing, Faculty of Agronomy, Gorsky State Agrarian University, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.
Gorsky Agrarian University has been working on selection and seed production of potatoes for about 13 years, this is a short period, given that
obtaining one variety takes an average of 12-15 years. The tasks of breeders include the creation of new high-yielding varieties and hybrids. Approbation of new products takes place on the fields of Zolsky Potato LLC. Scientists are also engaged in the production of microplants and minitubers of their own varieties of potatoes. Minitubers are grown in clean phytosanitary conditions of the mountain zone of the Republic of North Ossetia
- Alanya, at an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level. Here is the collection nursery of the university, which grows more than 100 varieties of potatoes of domestic and foreign selection. The university conducts work on growing potato microplants in its own agro-biotechnological complex.
DIRECTIONS OF POTATO BREEDING
The most important characteristic of a potato is its ripening period. On the territory of the North Caucasian Federal District, varieties of almost all types in this category are in demand, it all depends on the specific cultivation zone. For example, in North Ossetia, you can grow both early, and medium early, and medium, and even late varieties of potatoes. In the foothills of the North Caucasus - in Kabardino-Balkaria, parts of Karachay-Cherkessia, Ingushetia, Chechnya - farmers get excellent harvests of late varieties. And in Dagestan, the climate is more arid, so only early varieties are relevant there.
In general, breeders working on the development of varieties for the North Caucasus give priority to early varieties (since most
part of the territories it is possible to obtain two crops of potatoes).
The next significant quality of the variety is resistance to various pathogens. Worldwide the most dangerous disease for potatoes
late blight is recognized. It can also cause significant damage to the economies of the North Caucasus. Also, potatoes in our region are often affected by rhizoctonia, diseases of fungal origin (common scab, powdery, fusarium, etc.), viral diseases,
which also needs to be taken into account by breeders. Now, resistance to the golden nematode is becoming increasingly important, as many fields are infected with this pest.
Let's not forget that varieties are divided according to purpose.
The main goal of the work of Gorsky SAU breeders is table varieties, but we are also trying to create varieties for processing. It is too early to talk about results in this direction, but I am convinced that if there are opportunities and people who want to do this, everything is achievable.
In addition, suitability for long-term storage, yield and, of course, the presentation of tubers are of great importance for the success of the variety.
In North Ossetia, for example, varieties with yellow flesh are not in demand. I think the main reason is Ossetian pies.
with potatoes, in which the white filling looks prettier. Although yellow-fleshed potatoes are actually healthier, they have more carotenoids, nutrients, but many simply do not know about it.
GRADE
There is only one variety included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in the portfolio of breeders of the Gorsky State Agrarian University - Ossetian.
This is a mid-early variety for table use. Differs in excellent tastes, high rates of marketability and keeping quality.
Resistant to the causative agent of potato cancer, golden potato cyst nematode, wrinkled, banded mosaics and leaf curl.
Another variety - Farn (farn from Ossetian - peace, prosperity, abundance, happiness) - has been undergoing variety trials for the second year. We got
it has very good reviews, but it's too early to sum up the results. In 2023, we plan to submit a third variety for variety testing, it does not yet have a name. I note that this variety, like Farn, was created as part of the FSTP.
Gorsky State Agrarian University is a co-executor of the complex scientific and technical project "Production of high-quality seed potatoes of competitive domestic varieties in a virus-free environment of the mountainous zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic", the customer of which is the Zolsky Potato LLC enterprise. The project is being implemented within the framework of the subprogram "Development of selection and seed production
potatoes in the Russian Federation” of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture for 2017-2025.