Page 66 - Introduction to Agriculture by: Aqleem Abbas

Introduction to Agriculture Notes prepared by: Aqleem Abbas

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF POTATO

POTATO

Potato, edible starchy tuber. It is produced by certain plants of a genus of the nightshade family, especially the common white
potato. The name is also applied to the plants.

Location

The white-potato tuber is a food staple in most countries of the temperate regions of the world.

PLANT PARTS

The plant is grown as an annual herb. The stem attains a length of up to almost 1 m (almost 3 ft), erect or prostrate, with pointed
leaves and white to purple flowers. The fruit is a many-seeded berry about the size of a cherry. Like the stems and the foliage, the
fruit contains significant amounts of solanin, a poisonous alkaloid characteristic of the genus. The plant, native to the Peruvian
Andes, was brought to Europe in the 16th century by Spanish explorers. The cultivation of the potato spread rapidly, especially in
the temperate regions, and early in the 18th century the plant was introduced into North America. The earliest authentic record of
its cultivation there was dated 1719, at Londonderry, New Hampshire. In ordinary cultivation, propagation is accomplished by
planting the tuber or a section of the tuber containing an eye, which is an undeveloped bud. New varieties are developed from
seed produced after controlled pollination. Improved varieties may be propagated rapidly by using cuttings from the sprouts.
Rich, sandy loams are most suitable for producing the light, mealy types; heavy, moist soils produce the firm type preferred.
Freshly dug potatoes contain 78 percent water, 18 percent starch, 2.2 percent protein, 1 percent ash, and 0.1 percent fat. About 75
percent of the dry weight is carbohydrate. The potato is an important source of starch for the manufacture of adhesives and
alcohol.

IMPORTANT DISEASES

The most important disease of the potato is late blight, caused by a fungus that rots leaves, stems, and tubers. The early blight,
caused by a different fungus, is not so destructive but causes lesions that permit entry of the various forms of bacterial rot.
Several forms of mosaic disease and leaf curl are caused by infection with viruses.

PESTS

The Colorado potato beetle is the most destructive of the insect pests; others include the potato leafhopper, the potato flea beetle,
and species of aphids and psyllids. See also Sweet Potato.