Abstract
The potential of True Potato Seed (TPS) for use in
potato production in Bangladesh was evaluated through a
series of experiments conducted at the Potato Research
at
Centre, Joydevpur and its substations Munshiganj and Bogra.
Research conducted during the period from 1984-1987 focused
on improving flowering and berry setting in some selected
genotypes; developing suitable methodology for producing
vigorous TPS seedlings; evaluating the performance of
different TPS progenies and seedling-tubers against standard
cultivars and analyzing the economic performance of TPS
transplants and seedling-tubers (tuberlets) produced from
TPS against traditional method of potato production from
seed-tubers of standard cultivars.
Improvement of flowering and berry setting of seven
selected genotypes/varieties wes, evaluated by the use of
extended photoperiod artificially and in the genotypе 1282-19
by the application of GAz- The genotypes P-111, 1282-19 and
800226 showed better response to extended photoperiod than
natural daylength. The application of GA3 at the rate of 25
ppm was effective to improve flowering and berry setting of
genotype 1282-19 but the percent berry setting decreased
with increased rates of GAZ.
Five different growing media for raising TPS seedlings
were tested. The media consisting of soil, sand and FYM in the proportion of 1:1:1 was found most suitable. The use
of nitrogen at the rate of 5 g per 10 kg in the soil medium
M5 and shading the nursery beds with bamboo mats for 1
to 2 weeks from the date of seeding were found to be optimum
conditions for raising TPS seedlings.
The performance. of different TPS progenies as
transplants and seedling-tubers were evaluated against
seed-tubers of standard cultivars at three locations. Much
variation of tuber-yield of hybrid and open pollinated TPS
progenies as well as standard cultivars was found in all the
locations. The hybrid progeny Atzimba x R-128.6 showed the
best potential and the open pollinated progeny 1282-19
produced an acceptable yield when compared with standard
cultivars. Yields from seedling-tubers produced from TPS
were better than the standard cultivars by an average of
45%.
The economic performance was evaluated for TPS
transplants and seedling-tubers against the traditional
method of potato production from seed-tubers. The cost of
the
production was higher, in case of seed-tuber technology than
those of seedling-tuber and TPS transplant technologies.
the
The net-profit was the highest in, case of seedling-tubers
produced from TPS. Benefit-cost ratios of 2.4, 2.2 and 1.6
resulted from TPS transplant, seedling-tuber and seedtuber technologies respectively