Shimla, Oct 17: Four new hybrid varieties of potatoes, developed by the central potato research institute, have been recommended for release as commercial varieties by the all-India potato coordinated workers group at its meeting in Bangalore recently. The new varieties -- ms/92-2015, hybrid jw-160, hybrid ht/92-621 and hybrid sm/87-185 -- would boost potato production in the entire country and offer wide choice to various regions to adopt the suitable variety for export and processing, a CPRI release said.


The hybrid ms/92-2105 is a medium maturing crop producing attractive, medium to large, oval, red tubers with slight medium deep eyes and creamy flesh.

During the trials conducted at different locations, the hybrid out-yielded the control varieties giving two to four per cent higher dry matter, it said.

Hybrid Jw-160 had shown high adaptability, out-yielding the best control varieties like Kufri Anand, Kufri Badshah and Kufri Pukhraj both in plain and plateau regions, it said.
Besides, the hybrid had excellent keeping quality under ambient storage and was resistant to late blight.
Hybrid ht/92-621 is also a high yielding medium maturing variety. It proved suitable for cultivation in the warmer areas of the country under early planting conditions in the northern plains when temperatures are not conducive.
Hybrid SM/87-185 has performed equally well as the existing high yielding variety, Kufri Giriraj in the hills.
This variety is also resistant to late blight and will supplement the potato protection in the hills, it said.
Bureau Report