Specialists of the Novgorod laboratory of the Rosselkhoztsentr started an important and responsible procedure - cuttings of seed potatoes. This is done in conditions as close to medical as possible.
At stake is the quality, safety and security of the future crop. As it turned out, insidious infections are a scourge not only for humans. Viral and bacterial diseases can ruin the entire crop, such as potatoes, if tubers prepared for planting are affected. The cultivation of a special virus-resistant variety is the main task of the laboratory of meristemic cloning of potatoes in the Novgorod branch of the Russian Agricultural Center. For this, in a carefully disinfected box, almost ideal conditions for germination are created.
Andrei Matov, head of the branch of FSBI Rosselkhoztsentr: “The sterility process itself consists in the fact that the tubes themselves and the nutrient solution undergo multiple heat treatments in order to reduce the chance of bacteria and fungi getting in, so as not to spoil the planting material, and not to introduce viruses there. And we repeatedly check through PCR. " In the prepared solution - a nutrient medium for cuttings of plants - placed pieces of tuber. And then automation is connected - it regulates the temperature and light mode, bringing the artificial “field” closer to natural conditions.
Potato "kindergarten" grows up quickly: after 35 days, the new plant is ready for the next division. Andrey Matov: “In one period, we make three such cuttings in order to give out the desired volume.” As a result, one such tripod with fifty test tubes will produce about 10 thousand tubers. This work in our area began 5 years ago, and last year was included in the priority regional project for the development of domestic seed production. The laboratory specialists will begin planting minitubers in greenhouses after May 20. Until June 5, this work should be carried out by seed farms in the region. By the way, the most popular among Novgorod farmers are the meristem varieties Aurora, Krepysh and Red Scarlet.
Nina Kryuchek