Project
Towards a resilient potato cropping system
A resilient potato cropping system will be developed for late-blight resistant hybrid potato cultivars. Research studies on agronomy, integrated pest management and life cycle analysis will be conducted and data will be used to develop a sustainable potato cropping system. The focus of the PhD research is to explore the cultivation (i.e., agronomy) aspect of late-blight resistant diploid hybrid potato cultivars using field transplanting as the cropping system of choice.
Background
Novel hybrid breeding technology in potato provides true potato seeds (TPS) as a starting material for seed and ware tuber production. Hybrid breeding allows for the combination of yield, pathogen resistance and market quality traits into cultivars within fewer years than in conventional breeding. Field transplanting of greenhouse raised seedlings is one of the feasible cropping system from TPS. TPS are sown and raised in greenhouse nurseries to produce seedlings fit for field transplanting and a seed or ware potato crop is harvested at the end of the season. The main objective of the RESPOT project is to develop, communicate and disseminate a late-blight resistant hybrid potato cropping system, tailored to adoption and cultivation of diploid, hybrid potato cultivars by farmers.
Project description
Specifically, this PhD Research will delve into understanding various factors that influence productivity of field transplanted late blight resistant hybrid potato by exploring (1) the factors influencing seedling growth and development in the nursery, (2) factors influencing seedling establishment after field transplanting, and (3) crop management factors and their influence on development, yield and yield components. With this information, we therefore aim to develop resilient and sustainable methods for transplanting and cultivating transplanted hybrid seedlings.