Seed potato in Russia: production, market and quality system development

The annual demand of potato planting material in Russia is evaluated at 9 million tonnes for the total planted area of 2,9 million hectares including agricultural enterprises, peasant farms and small private family farms. But the volume of certified seed potato is not sufficient now. As a result many potato producers use non-certified seed potato badly affected by virus, bacteria and fungus infection. That is why one of the most vital factors of yield increase and efficiency of potato production is forming the seed growing systems at Federal and regional Levels. It is necessary also to bear in mind the vast diversity of climatic conditions as well as not to forget the main factors which most influence the quality of seed potato material in places of its production on the territory of the Russian Federation. The new project was developed for quality improvement of seed potato in Russia at present. Very important part of this project is the Bank of Healthy Potato Varieties (BHPV). This Bank is located in the Northern area (Archangelsk region) and maintained under the cleanest phytosanitary conditions. The fund of original free of viruses seed material based on BHPV was created in Russian regions where the level of infection toad is minimal. This system allows to use the advantages of favourable conditions with the complex application of modern methods and seed potato technologies and high performance laboratory tests of virus and other pathogens. Systems of virus detection, norms and methods of laboratory tests as well as requirements to the quality and tolerance level for different seed classes (generations) in general are unified and harmonized with European ones, which are adapted by the UNECE for the European Union.