Technologies Improving Seed Potato Quality and Quantity in India
Ratna Preeti KaurJalandhar
Background
India, a sub-tropical country, is the second largest producer of potatoes in the world, producing approximately 60MT of potatoes annually. A major credit for this boost, despite its agroclimatic situation, goes to the remarkable transformation in its potato seed production by both public and private seed producers of the country since 1990’s. This picked up at a rapid pace in the last decade, fuelled by groundbreaking advancements in micropropagation, net house production, aeroponics, apical rooted cuttings and innovative photoautotrophic micropropagation. Here, potato seed is the single major input in potato production owing to its vegetative nature prone to viral diseases, low multiplication rates, bulky and perishable nature.
Innovations in potato seed production have improved the quality and availability of disease-free quality seeds, addressing the challenges posed by traditional seed multiplication methods. The synergy between these technologies has not only boosted productivity but also positioned India as a leader in high-tech potato seed production.
Technologies by Partners implemented for large scale seed potato production.
Initial Tissue culture technologies to new
In the initial years, cultured tissue culture plants were allowed to microtuberize in vitro producing microtubers used as propagules or else cultivated in nethouses to produce healthy disease free minitubers. However, in the recent years, the microplants are being channelized to aeroponics, apical rooted cuttings and to the novel photoautotrophic micropropagation systems. Apical rooted cuttings have found much adoption in the eastern and the southern states of the country, and to date, more than 38 aeroponic units have been established in the country. Presently, more than 30 tissue culture laboratories have taken up the work of micropropagation and seed production.
Net House Production microplants produce G0 seed. Net houses provide a controlled environment where micropropagated plantlets could be grown into healthy minitubers. These structures offer protection from pests, diseases, and harsh weather, ensuring optimal growth conditions for potato plants.
Despite a short seed production window, net houses with proper management offer safe havens for seed cultivation for extended periods. There has been widespread adoption of net houses in the region to improve quality of potato seed.
Aeroponics offers significant advantages over traditional soil-based cultivation, particularly in terms of minituber productivity. Although setting up this system requires a high level of specialization in planning, operational expenses, and standardization of genotype responsive nutrient solutions, it offers quality seeds with up to 10 times more minitubers per plant compared to conventional methods. This breakthrough has been crucial in addressing India’s seed shortages, especially in regions where the demand for high-quality seed potatoes outpaced supply.
Initially introduced in research institutions and high-tech farms, aeroponics quickly gained popularity among commercial seed producers. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and private sector collaborations has played a key role in setting up aeroponic facilities capable of producing industrial-scale quantities of minitubers.
Apical Rooted cuttings are another game changer in improving quality planting material of potato in the developing world. It has been successfully integrated into the nuclear seed production programme in India. This technology has been commercialized by 7-8 firms to enhance the seed availability.
Photoautotrophic micropropagation (PAM) technology for micropropagating planting material was developed, based on culture conditions promoting photoautotrophy and hardening in microplants, but with an additional advantage of economising and easing out the procedures resulting in higher multiplication rates and yield of minitubers produced. This innovation not only improved the efficiency of plantlet production but also made the process more cost-effective. The technology has been commercialized to Jalandhar Potato Seeds Pvt Ltd. Deesa Gujrat. The first Photoautotrophic micropropagation (PAM) technology-based laboratory has started its operations in the Aadi village in Jalandhar District in India.
Breeder (nuclear) seed production and supply by research stations, along with the other regional stations of ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, produces up to 3000 tons of breeder seed. This in then supplied to the different government agencies and seed producers for further multiplication up to certified seed and supplied to potato seed growers to ensure higher potato productivities in the country. Both conventional and Hi-tech seed production systems, stringently adhering to the seed plot technique, is followed. The strictest protocol in doing exactly what is outlined in Figure 5 has been the key to large scale success in producing high quality seed in large quantities. A robust seed certification and quality assurance system is in place backed by ELISA and PCR based testing procedures, ensures that only the best-quality seeds reach farmers (Figure 6). This collaborative effort has not only improved productivity within the domestic market but also paved the way for India to become a global player in potato seed exports.
Training and extension related to healthy potato seed production.
Regular trainings, consultation with the growers, problem solving, and seed distribution activities for the weaker sections are communicated to ensure empowerment and participation in maintaining and production of quality potato seed in the region. The younger generation students in the agriculture courses (Figure 7) who visit the station are given a holistic overview of the research activities at the station to motivate them and provide a suitable direction.
Results
The synergy between these technologies have led to the evolution of a highly efficient and sustainable seed production system in the Northwestern plains. Micropropagation, using tissue culture and Photoautotrophic micropropagation, provide a reliable source of virus-free microplants, net houses and aeroponics, apical rooted cuttings and maximize minituber output, ensuring a rapid and large-scale supply of high-quality seeds.
This integrated approach has made India a self-sufficient producer of potato seeds, drastically reducing the need for seed imports. Farmers now have access to a steady supply of high-quality, disease-free seeds (Figure 8), enabling them to achieve higher yields and improve their profitability. The resilience of crops has also improved, as the use of superior seed material has mitigated the impact of pests and diseases.
Lessons learned
India’s evolution in potato seed production over the past decade, driven by advancements in micropropagation, net house production, and aeroponics, improvement programmes backed by strong extension and allied technologies has transformed the country into a leader in high-tech agriculture. These innovations have significantly increased seed availability, improved disease resistance, and boosted productivity, providing a sustainable solution to the challenges of traditional potato farming. As India continues to refine and expand its use of these technologies, it is poised to become a major player in the global potato seed market while ensuring food security and economic growth for its farmers.
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