PotatoArea Under Cultivation

Potato is grown almost in all states of India. However, the major potato rowing states are Himachal

Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal,

Bihar and Assam.

Botanical Name : Solanum tuberosum

Family : Solanaceae

Plant Discription :

Nutritional Levels :

It is a much branched bushy herb, usually 0.5 to 1m in height possesing underground stems

bearing the edible tubers. The leaves are odd pinate with a large terminal leaflet. It flowers in

cymose panicles.

Centre of origin : South America

Pollination system : Cross pollinated

Chromosome no : 2n=48

Moisture Protein Fat Mineral matter Fibre Carbohydrate Calories(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (K Cal)

74.7 1.6 0.1 0.6 0.4 22.6 97

Minerals

Phosphorus Potassium Calcium Magnesium Iron Sodium Copper (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g)

40 247 10 30 0.48 11 0.16

Manganese Zinc Sulphur Chlorine Molybdium Cromium(mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g)

0.13 0.53 37 16 0.07 0.007

Vitamins

Carotene Thiamine Riboflavin Niacin Vitamin C Choline Folic acid-Free(mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g)

24 0.1 0.01 1.2 17 100 3

Folic acid- Total(mg/100g)

7

Moisture Protein Fat Mineral matter Fibre Carbohydrate Calories(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (K Cal)

74.7 1.6 0.1 0.6 0.4 22.6 97

Phosphorus Potassium Calcium Magnesium Iron Sodium Copper (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g)

40 247 10 30 0.48 11 0.16

Manganese Zinc Sulphur Chlorine Molybdium Cromium(mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g)

0.13 0.53 37 16 0.07 0.007

Carotene Thiamine Riboflavin Niacin Vitamin C Choline Folic acid-Free(mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g) (mg/100g)

24 0.1 0.01 1.2 17 100 3

Folic acid- Total(mg/100g)

7

Minerals

Vitamins

PotatoDiseases

Wart (Synchytrium endobioticum):

It is one of the most dreaded diseases of potato. The most favourable conditions for the development

of the disease are periodic flooding followed by lack of proper drainage and aeration. The disease is

characterised by 'cauliflower-like' warty growths on tubers, stolons and stem bases but not roots.

Under wet conditions, it may be seen in the form of greenish-yellow crust on the stems and leaves at or

near the soil level. All the tubers on diseased plant do not necessarily develop warts. Diseased tubers

may show formation of either one or more tumours. Such tubers sometimes are completely

transformed into warty mass. The tumors may turn brown to black with age.

Control: Wart affected tubers used as seed are the chief means of the disease spread. The disease

may also spread through seed of wart immune varieties grown in wart infested land, contaminated soil

carried on the feet of men, animals or farm implements, and manure containing diseased material.

Control of the disease is possible only by cultivation of immune varieties.

No effective treatments are available and cannot be applied on large field scale. However preventive

measures like practicing long crop rotation (5 years or more), using disease free potatoes as seed

material and burning of wart affected lumps and potato peelings are effective in checking the spread of

the disease.

Soft Rot (Erwinia. carotovora subsp carotovora):

This disease causes very high losses in storage. Excessive moisture, high temperature excess

nitrogen, tuber injuries and poor ventilation during storage are the important factors helping in disease

development. Initially a small area of tuber tissue around lenticel or stolon attachment point becomes

water soaked and soft. Under low humidity, the initial soft rot lesions become dark and sunken. Under

high humidity, the lesion may enlarge and spread to larger area. Tubers in advanced stages of decay

are usually invaded by other organisms and the decaying tissue becomes slimy with foul smell and

brown liquid ooze. The tuber skin remains intact and sometimes the rotted tubers are swollen due to

gas formation. At harvest, many small rotted tubers with intact skin can be seen. The infected seed

tubers rot before emergence resulting in gaps. The symptoms appear as water soaked lesions on the

stem, leaves and petioles. The affected parts turn black and rot leading to toppling of the stem and

leaves.

Control: In the field, avoiding excess irrigation and nitrogen, providing proper and drainage prevents

the spread of the disease.

Cultural methods such as adjust planting time to avoid hot weather during plant emergence and O

harvesting the crop before soil temperature rises above 28 C is recommended. The crop should be

harvested only when the tuber skin is fully cured. Care should be taken to avoid injury to tubers and

bruised injured tubers are sorted out. Treating the tubers with 3% boric acid for 30 min and drying them

under shade minimizes infection in the storage. The treated tubers should be stored in either in well-

ventilated cool stores or cold stores.

Charcoal Rot (Macrophomina phaseolina):

The diseases infects the tubers in the soil through proliferated lenticels and injuries, Black spots

appear around the lenticels and eyes which enlarge into patches extending deep into the tuber flesh.

The pathogen infects through lenticels, eyes, stolons and wounds made by larvae of the tuber moth to

cause black sunken lesions and later blackening of internal tissues.OControl: Harvesting the crop early before the soil temperature reaches 28 C can check the disease.

Bacterial Wilt or Brown Rot (Pseudomonas solanacearum):Brown rot or bacterial wilt is a destructive disease of the potato. It causes

losses in two ways: (i) premature wilting and death of the plants leading to total

loss of yield, and (ii) rotting of the tubers in transit or storage.

The earliest symptom is slight wilting of the top, which is soon followed, by

total wilting. In advanced stage, if the base of the stem of the affected plants is

cut transversely and squeezed, the bacterial mass is seen to ooze out as a

dull white slimy mass on the cut surface.

Two types of symptoms are produced in tubers, viz. vascular rot and pitted

lesions. In vascular rot, the vascular tissues look like a water soaked circle, which subsequently may

turn brown.

The lesions on tuber are produced due to infection through lenticels (skin pores). Initially water soaked

spots develop which enlarge forming pitted lesions.

Control: The infected seed tubers including apparently healthy seed tubers from diseased crop are

important in spread and carry over of the disease. Hence, disease free seed tubers obtained from

disease free areas should be used for planting. Splitting of the tubers at the time of the planting should

be avoided as splitting spreads the disease even to health tubers. Application of stable bleaching

powder (12kg/ha) mixed with fertilizer in furrows while planting reduces wilt incidence by 80%.

Practicing crop rotation for 2-3 years with crops like maize, finger millet, cereals, garlic, lupin, and

onion cabbage can reduce the disease inoculum.

Black Scurf and Stem Canker (Rhizoctonia solani):The disease commonly affects the tubers, sprouts, stems and

stolons. The most common symptom is black scurf comprising of

dark brown to black irregular lumps sticking on the surface of

tubers. These irregular lumps are closely adhered to the tuber

surface and do not wash off easily. Other symptoms on the tuber

include skin cracks, crater like depressions, pitting, stem-end

necrosis and shape deformity.

The disease often causes sprout injury both in storage and in

fields after planting. The affected sprouts show discoloration of

tissue. The heavily infected sprouts cannot emerge from soil leading to gappy germination.

The emerging sprouts when infected later develop cankers causing girdling of stem bases. Such

affected plants show upward rolling of leaves with pinkish or purplish margin. Often small green or

reddish aerial tubers are also formed in the axils. The infection also spreads to roots and developing

stolons resulting in rotting of cortical tissues. Such infected roots later shed away hence infected plants

have poor root system. Infected stolons give rise to deformed tubers.

Control: Combination of tuber disinfection and improved cultural practices successfully checks the

incidence and severity of black scurf. In the hills tuber treatment with an organomercurial compound &

soil application of PCNB @ 30kg/ha is most effective. In the North India plains, treatment of the

diseased seed with Thiabendazole, TBZ + 8 Hydroxyquinoline, acetic acid +zinc Sulphate,

Carbendazim and Boric Acid effectively controls the disease. The progeny tubers of such treated

seeds are usually free from black scurf. A continuous use of treated seed for 2-3 crop seasons is found

to completely check the disease. Crop rotation with maize or 'dhaincha' (Sesbania aegyptiaca) for

green manure also checks the disease build up.

Common Scab (Streptomyces spp.):

The disease does not cause yield losses but disfigures the tubers,

thereby reducing the market value and increasing peeling losses. The

disease mainly affects potato tubers causing any of the following

symptoms viz., mere abrasion of skin (russetting); corky lesions around

lenticels which may be star shaped or irregularly circular; irregular

concentric corky rings around lenticels; raised rough corky pustules and

3-4 mm deep pits surrounded by hard corky tissues. In case of severe

attack, dark brown lesions may develop on roots and stolons.

Control: The pathogen is difficult to control because of long survival both on seed tubers and in soils.

However using disease free seed tubers could minimize the disease incidence. Before planting the

seed tubers are treated with organomercurial compounds (0.015%for 20 minutes) or Boric Acid (3%

for 30 minutes) and dries in shade. The same treatment is repeated before the storage of the tubers.

Maintaining high moisture in ridge atleast for a few weeks during the initial tuber formation phase

crates adverse conditions for the development of the disease. Following crop rotations with wheat,

pea, oats, barley, lupin, soybean, sorghum and bajra checks the disease development.

Dry Rot (Fusarium spp.):

The dry rot is an important disease of storage. The skin of the

dry rot infected tubers first becomes brown then turns darker

and develops wrinkles. These wrinkles are often arranged in

irregular concentric circles. In the later stage of infection, a hole

may be observed in the center of the concentric ring with whitish

or pinkish growth of fungal mycelium. On cutting these affected

tubers, whitish or brownish tissues are seen with one or more

cavities. Eventually the infected tubers loose water and become dry, hard and shriveled.

Control: Use only clean and healthy seed tubers for planting and tuber washing followed by drying

under shade substantially reduces the infection. Dipping the tubers in organomercurial compounds

(0.2%) for 30 minutes is effective. Tuber damage and injury must be avoided during harvest and

storage. Tubers should be stored in cold stores in plains. In country stores, tubers must be examined

periodically and rotting tubers sorted out. If possible, splitting of seed during planting should be

avoided. Otherwise seed pieces may be treated with Mancozeb (1kg in 450 litres water) for 10 minutes

and dried for 24-48 hrs before planting.

Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans):

The disease affects all plant parts, viz., leaves, stems and tubers. It

appears on leaves as small pale green spots, which enlarge into large

water soaked lesions. A white mildew (cottony growth) ring forms

around the dead areas on the lower side of leaves. In dry weather,

water soaked areas turn necrotic brown. On stems, light brown

elongated lesions are formed which may encircle the stem. Tubers

develop reddish brown, shallow to deep, dry rot lesions. The affected

tuber flesh becomes 'caramalised' with a sugary texture. Frequently

metallic tinge develops on the margins of the affected tissue.

Tubers carrying the pathogen are the real carriers and serve as the source of the disease in the

subsequent season. Infected seed tubers grow into healthy plants but under favourable conditions for O

the disease (10-12 C and RH > 80%) development, the disease infects the stem and lower leaves.

Control: Seed potatoes should be checked thoroughly before storage. All blighted tubers must be

removed and buried deep in the soil. Ridges should be made high enough to cover all daughter tubers Oand reduce chance of their infection upon exposure. If the weather conditions (temperature 10-20 C,

RH>80%) are favourable for the disease development irrigation should be stopped immediately. If

essential only light irrigation is given. When the disease affects 75% crop foliage, the haulms should be

cut, removed from the field, and buried deep.

Protective sprays with a contact fungicide, viz., Mancozeb (0.2%) before appearance of the disease is

effective. Subsequent sprays if necessary should be repeated at 8 to 10 days interval. In case of

severe blight attack, one or two sprays of Metalaxyl (0.25 %) are given to check the further spread of

the disease. Mancozeb is applied at an interval of 15 days after the Metalaxyl application.

Early blight (Alternarial solani):

The disease mainly infects leaves and tubers. Initially the

symptoms occur on the lower and older leaves in the form of small

(1-2 mm) circular to oval brown spots. These lesions have the

tendency to become large and angular at later stage. Mature

lesions on foliage look dry and papery, and often have the

concentric rings, looking like bulls eye. The symptoms on the tuber

comprise of brown, circular to irregular and depressed lesions with

underneath flesh turning dry, brown and corky. Lesions tend to

enlarge during storage and affected tubers later become shriveled.

Control: Use of disease free seed tubers for raising the crop. The crop must be given balanced doses

of fertilizers, especially nitrogen. Spraying the crop with urea (1.0%) at 45 days after sowing and giving

subsequent sprays 8-10 days after the first spray helps the crop to easily escape the severe onslaught

of early blight disease.

In the hilly regions, spraying of Copper Oxychloride (0.30%) and Bordeaux mixture (1.0%), is

recommended for control of early blight disease. Solanaceous crops, which act as the collateral hosts

for the disease organism, hence their cultivation nearby potato fields, must be avoided.

Potato Leafroll Virus (PLRV):

The PLRV invokes primary or secondary types of symptoms in plants depending upon the age of

infection. The primary symptoms develop during the crop growth. These symptoms are confined to top

young leaves, which usually stand upright, roll and turn slightly pale. The secondary symptoms of

PLRV develop when plants are grown from infected seed tubers. Such symptoms are rather prominent

in older leaves. Infected plants have characteristic pale, stunted and upright appearance with rolling of

lower leaves that turn yellow, brittle and are leathery in texture.

Control: The disease is managed by using virus-free seed potatoes. Multiplying virus-free seed in

aphid free areas. Population of aphid vectors is controlled by application of suitable contact/systemic

insecticides.

Potato Mosaics

Potato mosaics mostly invoke inter-veinal and veinal chlorosis, mild mottling and slight crinkling of

leaves. Top necrosis occurs in immune varieties while others express light yellowing of the leaf

margins or shiny yellow mottle of the entire leaf lamina. The potato plant is also affected by a severe

PotatoHarvesting

The time of harvest is very important in potato. The development of tuber continues till vines die. The

main crop is ready for harvest within 75-120 days of planting depending upon the area, soil type and

variety sown. In the hills, the crop should be normally harvested when the soil is not very wet. Tubers

lifted during the monsoon have a poor keeping quality and also develop various types of rots. The main

crop is ready for harvest when majority of the leaves turn yellow-brown. At this stage, the tops are cut

near the ground level. The potatoes are dug out from the field by ploughing after 8-10 days. These

potatoes are manually picked from the field and stored in shade. Manual harvesting of potatoes is very

labour intensive, time consuming and causes lot of damage to the tubers. Various low cost bullock

drawn and tractor drawn potato diggers have been developed at CPRI, Shimla which exposes 80% of

the tubers and covers 1-3 ha of area per day.

The harvested potatoes are surface dried and kept in heaps for 10-15 days in shade for curing of skin.

The tubers should not be exposed to direct sunlight as they become green. All damaged and rotten

tubers should be removed. The produce should be kept in a cool place before sending to the market.

Yield

The yield varies from variety to variety. However, the average yield of the early-maturing varieties is

about 20 t/ha and that of the late varieties about 30 t/ ha.

PotatoIntercultural Operations

Weed Control

The potato crop develops canopy in about 4 weeks after planting and weeds must be controlled by this

time to gain competitive advantage for the crop. If the weeds are large, they should be removed before

the ridging operations begin. After earthing up the weeds between the growing plants and at the top of

the ridge should be removed by mechanical or herbicide application. Weeding can be done manually

however it is expensive. Hence, animal drawn three-tine cultivator is used which can cover one

hectare per day. Alternatively pre-emergence spraying of weedicides such as Flucholralin (0.70-1.0 kg

a.i./ha) or Pendimethalin (0.50 kg/ha) is recommended for controlling annual grass weeds and broad

leaf weeds.

Earthing up

The main object of earthing up is to keep the soil loose and destroy weeds. Two or three earthing up

should be done at an interval of 15-20 days. The first earthing-up should be done when the plants are

about 15-25 cm high. The second earthing up is often done to cover up the tubers properly. Use of

double mould board plough ridger or 3 and 5 row tractor drawn culti-ridger can accomplish the earthing

up operation very well.

Crop rotation

The cropping sequence recommended is as follows-

Intercropping

Potato being a short duration and fast growing crop is an ideal for intercropping with other crops. It can

be successfully intercropped with sugarcane, as the cultural operations and resources used in both the

crops are mutually complimentary. The potato-fennel and potato-onion intercropping in Haryana;

potato-mustard and potato-linseed in Uttar Pradesh; and potato-wheat intercropping in Bihar are

some of the profitable crop combinations.

Area Crop rotation sequence

Bihar Potato-Mung- Paddy

Potato-Mung-Groundnut

Punjab Potato-Wheat-Maize

Potato-Wheat-Paddy

Potato-Wheat-Green manure crop

Assam Potato-Mung-Paddy(Transplanted)

Gujarat & Uttar Pradesh Potato-Bajra-Groundnut

Madhya Pradesh Potato-Okra-Soybean

PotatoIrrigation

Irrigation has a special significance in the potato production as the plant has shallow and sparse root

system. First irrigation should be light and given 5-7 days after planting and subsequent irrigation are

given at 7-15 days interval depending upon the climatic condition and soil type. The drip system of

irrigation is most economical giving highest productivity and saving almost 50% water. It also enables

application of fertilizers through irrigation water. The sprinkler system gives uniform distribution of

water and reduces water losses by percolation and run off. Sprinkler irrigation is beneficial on frosty

nights as it reduces frost damage in potatoes. It is recommended for areas with undulating topography,

extremely sandy soil and scarce water supply. Under such situations, the use of sprinkler systems

increases water use efficiency by 40% as compared to furrow irrigation.

PotatoManuring & Fertilization

Nutrient requirement of potato crop is quit high and the application of fertilizers and organic manures is

considered essential to obtain economic and high yields. In light soils and places where organic

manures are not easily available, green manuring is beneficial. The optimum dose of fertilizer

application varies greatly depending upon the soil type, soil fertility, climate, crop rotation, variety,

length of growing season and moisture supply. A fertilizer dose of 180-240 kg N, 60-90 kg P O and 85-2 5

130 K O per hectare is recommended for alluvial soils of Indo Gangetic plains. In the hill zone, the 2

application of 100-150 kg N, 100-150 kg P O and 50-100 kg K O per hectare is recommended. In black 2 5 2

soils of plateau areas about 120-150 kg N, 50 kg each of P O & K O is recommended. In the acidic 2 5 2

soils of southern plateau 120kg N, 115 kg P O , and 120 K O kg per hectare are recommended for 2 5 2

potato production. Two third of N and entire dose of P and K is given at the time of planting. The balance

N is given at the time of earthing up operation. The fertilizers are applied by band placement 5 cm away

from the tubers. Ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate are usually the best fertilizers for potato

followed by calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and urea.

PotatoPests

Aphids (Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypi, Aphis fabae ):There are several kinds of aphids that feed on potato plants. Aphids transmit a virus disease and cause

severe damage to the plant by sucking the juice from leaves and young stems. The plants may be

stunted, with the leaves tightly curled and rolled when the attack is severe. th

Control: Aphids are controlled by adjusting the planting dated upto 15 October in north western th thplains, 25 October in Central plains and upto 5 November in North eastern plains. In the Plains,

aphids are controlled by application of Phorate 10 G (1.5kg a.i./ha) followed by spraying with

Dimethoate 30 EC (0.03%). The spraying should be repeated every week till the insect is completely

controlled.

Cut Worms (Agrotis ipsilon and Agrotis segetum):

The caterpillars cause crop damage. They feed at night on young

shoots or under ground tubers. In the early stages of if crop, the

caterpillars cut the stem of the young plants near the ground and feed

on the shoots and leaves. After tuber formation, they bore and nibble

into the tubers affecting both tuber yield and market value.

Control: Hot weather ploughing in plains and autumn ploughing in hills

reduce the population of immature stages. A number of birds, feed on insects that get exposed upon

ploughing. Spraying insecticides like Chlorpyrifos 20EC (2.5 litres/ha) and drenching the ridges on

noticing the cutworms controls the pest.

Mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus):

The peak activity of mites occurs during August-September and mid October- mid December. Both

adults and nymphs damage the crop by foliage feeding. Mite attack starts from the top potato leaves

showing downward curling. In the early stages of infestation, the lower side of leaves appears 'oily'.

Gradually these symptoms can be seen on the entire plant. The infested leaves become short and

leathery in appearance with characteristic copper colour deposits on lower side. Under severe mite

attack, the infested leaves dry up and wither away resulting into death of the plant.

Control: The mite infestation on potato crop can be avoided by delayed planting towards mid October

in Indo-Gangetic plains. Frequent spraying with Dicofol 18.5 EC or Quinalphos 25 EC @ 2.0 litres/ha

controls the pest. The first application should be done on appearance of the pest and repeated at 7 to

10 days interval depending on the persistence of mite infestation.

Rootknot Nematode (Meloidogynae arenaria and M. incognita):

Small galls or knots are formed on potato roots but they often go unnoticed.

Heavily infested plants are stunted and exhibit early maturity. Reduction in size

and number of tubers reduces the yield and warty 'pimple-like' outgrowths

formed on tubers result in qualitative reduction.

Control: Avoiding use of seeds from infested areas, deep ploughing and

drying of soil in summer months facilitate drying of infective larva, burning of trash and following a two

year rotational sequence of' maize-wheat-potato-wheat reduces the root-knot damage significantly.

Late Panting of autumn crop and early planting of spring crop in North-Western plains reduces

nematode damage, while in the hills early planting of summer crop in 4th week of March is ideal.

Application of Carbofuran (Furadan 3G) @ 3 kg a.i./ha is recommended for control of nematodes. The

pesticide is applied in two split doses, first at planting and second during earthing up.

Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera pallida):

Small patches of poorly growing plants appear in the field. Such plants show temporary wilting,

stunting and premature yellowing symptoms. The size and number of tuber is reduced. Small mustard

seed size yellow or white female nematodes are seen sticking to the roots.

Control: Growing non-host crops like radish, garlic, beet and turnip brings down the cyst population.

Application of Carbofuran 3G (2 kg a.i./ha) at the time of planting reduces the nematode population.

White Grubs (Lachnosterna longipennis and L. coracea):

The grubs initially feed on rootlets/roots and then on tubers. The first

stage grubs feed on live roots while the second and third instar grubs

make large, shallow and circular holes in the tuber and render them unfit

for marketing.

Control: A majority of beetles (white grub adults) found in Western

Himalayas are attracted to the light source hence electric or petromax

light traps may be operated for mass-collection. Wild shrubs and other hosts of beetles growing

in/around the potato fields should be removed.

Repeated ploughing before monsoon (April-May) exposes the grubs and pupae. They may be hand-

collected and destroyed. Flooding of the fields, for 7-10 days, adopting suitable crop rotations and

applying well rotten FYM helps in controlling the pest. Applying Phorate 10G or Carbofuran 3G @ 2.5-

3.0 kg a.i. /ha in furrows at planting or near plants base during earthing time is more effective.

Potato Tubermoth (Phthorimaea operculella):

Potato tubermoth (PTM) larvae mine the younger leaves and feeds on the tubers. Larvae penetrate the

leaves and feed within leaf veins or stems of the plant and on tubers in storage by depositing the eggs

near the eye buds, causing irregular galleries and 'tunnels' deep inside the tuber.

Control: An integrated approach is helpful in reducing PTM population in the field and stores. Regular 3

monitoring of PTM adult males with sex pheromone baited water traps (4 traps/100 m ) in field and

storage is helpful. Collection of left over tubers, use of uninfested seed tubers, deep planting, frequent

irrigation wherever possible, covering the exposed tubers in the field with soil and storage of healthy

tubers in moth proof structures are helpful. Spraying Monocrotophos 40 EC (1.5 litre in 1000 litres of

water) on 30 day old crop is effective in controlling the pest. The same may be repeated two weeks

before harvesting. Use of bioagents, viz. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Granulosis virus (GV) is

advocated for PTM control in the stores.

PotatoPost Harvest Technology

Grading

Differentiation of quality for potatoes is very complex. However, high quality traits, in commercial trade,

include more than 70 to 80% of tubers which are well shaped, brightness of colour (esp. reds, yellows,

and whites), uniformity, firmness, freedom from adhering soil, freedom from bruising (black spot or

shatter-bruising), scuffing or skinning, growth cracks, sprouting, insect damage, Rhizoctonia Black

Scurf, decay, greening, or other defects.

Packaging

The harvested potatoes are packed in jute gunny bags.

Storage

Storage requirements of potato vary with the purpose for which potatoes are stored. The methods

generally used for storage of potatoes are-

Room Storage

The room should have a high plinth and good ventilation. The doors and ventilators should be fitted

with insect-proof wire-nets. Potatoes can be stored in single layers on sand. Frequent examination is

necessary to discard tubers showing rotting symptoms.

Pit Storage

In this system, the tubers are stored in pits 60-75 cm deep and 2.5 metre long and 1 metre wide. These

pits are made in a cool shady place. Water is sprinkled inside the pit to achieve the cooling effect. After

two days neem leaves, dry grass or sugarcane trash is lined all round the pit from inside. Bamboo

chimneys of 1.5 metre length are placed inside the pit 1 metre apart for facilitating evaporation of the

moisture deposited due to transpiration of the stored tubers. Pits are then filled with tubers leaving 15

cm on top followed by a one-foot layer of dry grass. A thatch is provided over the pit as protection from

rain and sun.

Cold Storage

This is the best method of storing potatoes. At optimum conditions, potatoes should have good

quality after storage of 3 to 5 weeks. Best temperature and humidity conditions for potatoes are as

follows-

Potatoes in the cold storage are spread over the shelf to a thickness of not more than 30 cm.

Individual shelves are about 45 cm high and 15 cm space is allowed between two layers.

Sprouting is often a serious problem in storage of potatoes. Temperature, humidity, variety and

maturity affects sprouting. Isopropyl N-Chlorophenyl Carbamate (CIPC) is effective as sprout

suppressant. Its effectiveness is greator when CIPC treated potatoes were stored under refrigeration

under 8-12°C as against non-refrigerated storage.

Intended Use Temperature RH (%)O

Seed 2.4 C 95

Table 7°C 98

Processing 8-12°C 95

PotatoPlanting

Land Preparation

The land is ploughed at a depth of 24-25 cm and exposed to the sun. The soil should have a higher pore

space and offer least resistance to tuber development. Well decomposed FYM (25-30 t/ha) is mixed

with the soil during last ploughing.

Season of planting

Potatoes can be grown only under such conditions where the temperatures during the growing season

are moderately cool. Therefore, the planting time varies from region to region. In hills of Himachal

Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the spring crop is sown from January-February while the summer crop is

sown in the month of May. In plains of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal spring st

crop is sown in January while the main crop in the 1 week of October. In the states of Madhya Pradesh,

Maharashtra and Karnataka the kharif crop is sown by end of June while rabi crop is sown from mid of

October-November.

Method of Planting

Furrows are opened at a distance of 50-60 cm before planting. The whole or cut tubers are planted 15-

20 cm apart on the centre of the ridge at a depth of 5-7 cm and covered with soil. The seed rate of potato

depends upon the season of planting, duration, seed size, spacing etc. The seed rate is 1.5-1.8 t/ha for

round varieties and 2.0-2.5 t/ha for oval varieties. A four-row automatic potato planter developed by

CPRI performs all the operations from ridging to planting and covers an area of 4-5 hectares per day.

The tuber damage is as low as 1% while it requires only 2-3 persons for the entire operation.

Potato Plant

PotatoPropogation

Selection of Seed Tuber

Potato is mostly cultivated by planting tubers. Purity of the cultivars and healthy seed tubers are the

primary requirements for a successful crop. However, seed tuber is the costliest input in potato

cultivation. The tuber seed should be disease free, well-sprouted and 30-40 g each in weight. It is

advisable to use the entire seed tuber for planting. Hill tuber seeds are split into pieces and planted late

in winter when they do not decay due to mild temperatures. The main objectives of cutting large size

tubers are to reduce the cost of seed and to obtain uniform sprouting. Tubers should be cut

longitudinally through the crown eye and the weight of the cut piece should be around 30-40 g. Usually

the seed tubers are cut with a knife just and treated with a fungicide before planting. Before cutting the

seed tuber, the knife should be disinfected with Potassium Permanganate solution.

The shortage of good quality seed tubers, high seed cost, transportation of bulky potato seed, and

virus infiltration in seed tubers are some of the important problems associated with use of seed tubers

as planting material.

True Potato Seed (TPS)

To overcome the above problems True Potato Seed (TPS) is used as planting material. TPS is a

botanical seed developed in the berry of the plant as a result of fertilization. The technology basically

consists in production of TPS and raising commercial potato crop from it. It has been shown that the

use of TPS seedling transplants and seedling-tubers as seed are economical and successful

approaches to commercial potato production. In TPS technique, the normal seed rate (2.5 t/ha) of

potato is drastically reduced to only about 200g of TPS, thereby, saving huge quantities of food

material for table purposes. About 100 g of TPS costing Rs.3000/- is sufficient to plant one hectare of

potato as against 2-3 tonnes of seed tuber per hectare costing Rs.20,000-30,000/-

Potato crop can be raised from TPS using seedling transplants or through seedling-tubers produced in

preceeding crop season. In former method, the TPS seedlings raised in nursery beds are transplanted

in the field and grown to maturity. While, in latter, the TPS seedlings are grown to maturity in nursery

beds to obtain seedling-tubers. These seedling-tubers are used as a seed for raising normal potato

crop in next season.

TPS technology is likely to gain momentum in future particularly in the non-seed producing areas viz.

Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and the states of north-eastern region where good

quality seed tubers are either not available or are too expensive.

PotatoSoil & Climate

Soil

The potato can be grown almost on any type of soil except saline and alkaline soils. Soils, which are

naturally loose, offer least resistance to the enlargement of the tubers is preferred. Loamy and sandy

loam soils, rich in organic matter with good drainage and aeration are most suitable for cultivation of

potato crop. The soil with pH range of 5.2-6.4 is considered to be ideal.

Climate

Potato is a temperate climate crop, however it grows under a diverse range of climatic conditions. It is

grown only under such conditions where the temperature during the growing seasons is moderately

cool. The vegetative growth of the plant is best at a temperature of 24°C while tuber development is

favoured at 20°C. Hence, potato is grown as a summer crop in the hills and as a winter crop in the

tropical and subtropical regions. The crop can be raised up to an altitude of 3000 m above the sea level.

PotatoVarieties

Name of the variety/ Area & its Characteristics

Kufri SindhuriMaharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh,

Jammu &Kashmir, Medium, round red deep eyes. Moderately resistant to

early blight and tolerant to Potato Leaf Roll Virus (PLRV). Slow rate of

degeneration. Can tolerate temperature and water stress to some extent. Crop

matures in 110-120 days. Average yield is 40 t/ha. Tolerant to late blight

disease. Suitable for processing.

Kufri ChandramukhiMaharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,

Orissa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Large, oval, white, slightly flattened, fleet eyes and dull white flesh. Average yield

is 25 t/ha. Crop matures in 80-90 days. Suitable for instant flakes and chips.

Kufri JyotiMaharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka &

WestBengal. Large, oval, white, fleet eyes and white flesh. Crop matures early in

hills, Average yield in hills 20 t/ha. Moderately resistant to early and late blight. Slow

rate of degeneration. It is suitable for processing purpose.

Kufri LauvkarMaharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka .

Large, round, white, fleet eyes and white flesh. Able to build up yields rapidly

under warmer climate. Crop matures in 75-80 days. Average yield is 30 t/ha.

Suitable for chip making.

Kufri BadshahGujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu &

Kashmir.

Large, oval, white, fleet eyes, dull white flesh, and tubers turn purple on

exposure to light. Moderately resistant to early and late blight and resistant to

Potato Virus X (PVX). Crop matures in 100-110 days. Average yield is 50 t/ha.

Suitable for table purpose.

Kufri BaharHaryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir.

Large, round-oval, white, medium deep eyes. Slow rate of degeneration.

Crop matures in 100-110 days. Average yield is 45 t/ha. Suitable for table

purpose.

Kufri LalimaBihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Large to medium, red, round, medium deep eyes and white flesh. Crop matures in

100-110 days. Average yield 40t/ha. Moderately resistant to early blight. Resistant to

Potato Virus Y (PVY). Not suitable for processing

Kufri Jawahar

Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka.

Medium, round-oval, creamy white, fleet eyes and pale yellow flesh. Crop

matures in 80-90 days. Average yield is 40 t/ha. Moderately resistant to late

blight. Suitable in intensive-cropping systems. Suitable for table purpose.

Kufri SutlejBihar, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Large, oval, white, fleet eyes and white flesh. Crop matures in 90-100 days. Average

yield is 40 t/ha. Moderately resistant to late blight. Suitable for table purpose.

Kufri AshokaBihar, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal

Large, oval-long, white, fleet eyes and white flesh. Susceptible to late light. Crop

matures in 70-80 days, Average yield is 40 t/ha. Suitable for

tablepurpose.

Kufri Pukhraj Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal

Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal

Large, oval, slightly tapered, white, fleet eyes and yellow flesh. Crop matures in

70-90 days. Average yield is 40t/ha. Resistant to early blight and moderately

resistant to late blight. Suitable for table purpose.

Kufri Chipsona-1Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.Medium to large, oval, white, fleet eyes and dull white flesh. Crop matures in 90-110

days. Average yield is 40 t/ha. Resistant to late blight and tolerant to frost. Suitable

for making chips and French fries.

Kufri Chipsona-2Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.Medium, Round-oval, white, fleet eyes and yellow flesh. Crop matures in 90-

110 days. Average yield is 35 t/ha. Resistant to late blight and tolerant to

frost. Suitable for making chips and French fries.

Kufri Anand Plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Medium oval-long, white, flattened, fleet eyes, smooth skin and white flesh.

Resistant to late blight and tolerant to frost. Average yield is 35-40 t/ha. Crop

matures in 100-110 days. Suitable for preparing French fries.

Exotic Varieties:USAProcessing PurposeWhite potato, Burbank Russet, Katahdin.

Table & Processing Purpose

Russet, Round White, Long White, Round Red, Yellow Flesh, Blue and Purple.