Blogposts

January 30, 2023 | Blogs

Diseases occurring in the potato storage

Diseases that occasionally lead to considerable losses during storage include soft rot (Pectobacterium spp.), dry rot (Fusarium spp.), silver scurf (Helminthosporium), late blight (Phytophtora infestans), leak (Pythium) and pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica).

December 27, 2022 | Blogs

Weight loss in the potato storage

Potato tubers lose weight while being stored. The main contribution is loss of water through the skin by evaporation.

December 20, 2022 | Blogs

The need to ventilate and cool in potato storages

Plants grow because they capture carbon dioxide with the aid of energy from solar radiation. Photosynthesis generates sugars that upon respiration produce the energy needed for the biochemical processes associated with growth.

December 13, 2022 | Blogs

Requirements for storing potato tubers

Potatoes are harvested at peak times throughout the year. In temperate climates in early autumn and in subtropical winter climates the crop is harvested in early spring. In Mediterranean climates, there is one harvest late spring and one late autumn, two harvests per year associated with suitable temperature regimes. This is similar to the tropical…

October 17, 2022 | Blogs

The World of Potato Research: Fresh water farming in Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture (PA) is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops. It is a basis for more sustainable farming and highly depending on integration of technologies and knowledge. This column focusses on precision water management on an innovative arable farm.

October 10, 2022 | Blogs

Potato World Vision – No genetic progress without a healthy sector

At the end of May, during the World Potato Congress in Dublin, I had the opportunity to meet many colleagues from the sector. This congress, which is organised (officially) every three years, brings potato science and technology closer to growers, breeders, traders and the processing industry.

October 03, 2022 | Blogs

Brushing up on knowledge for a successful farming business

This summer, I cycled from my home to Santiago de Compostella. A wonderful experience to be on the road alone for a long time, to meet a wide range of people and also to get to know myself in a new way. Both physically and mentally.

September 26, 2022 | Blogs

External tuber disorders: Malformed tubers

Malformed tubers take many shapes. The deformed or misshapen tubers may be knobby, doll-like, have bottle necks like dumbbells and have a spiked rose end (pear shaped).

September 19, 2022 | Blogs

External tuber disorders: Skinning

When tubers mature before they are harvested the skin sets. Before the skin is set the thin epidermis can easily be removed through abrasion or attrition.

September 12, 2022 | Blogs

Potato Variety Days 2021: Jarke Kruize, Royal ZAP/Semagri Holland

The content of this blog originates from the article on the Potato Variety Days 2021 published in PotatoWorld magazine 2022/01.