Bejo has received breeder rights for its first true potato seed (TPS) variety. This new Oliver F1 potato hybrid can be grown directly from botanical seeds and when transplanted produces table potatoes in one season. Oliver F1 is a slightly floury oval-shaped table potato with a beautiful smooth skin and a very pleasant taste.
Research Director Bert Shriver comments: “Bejo breeders and researchers have worked for over 15 years to develop the company’s first tetraploid hybrid potato variety grown from botanical seeds. In recent years this variety, Oliver F1, has been tested in collaboration with Dutch growers, while Naktuinbouw has evaluated the variety to grant breeder’s rights. The seed production process has been successful and seeds are already available.”
Growing potatoes from botanical hybrid seeds rather than vegetatively propagated tubers offers numerous benefits to producers and others in the marketing chain. Seeds of real potatoes are not susceptible to disease, which ensures a healthy start to growing. Its compactness makes it easy to transport and store. And TPS is available for year-round planting.
“The benefits of TPS are especially important for small farmers in Africa, Asia and Central America,” says Rien van Bruchem, TPS Potato Cultivation Manager. “In these developing regions, the long-term spread of tuber potatoes can have a devastating effect on the quality of the propagation material. In contrast, the quality of TPS usually remains high during distribution.”
In the coming years, Bejo will focus on selected markets in these areas, working with local partners and growers to expand knowledge through commercial testing and grow advice. In addition, this new variety will be tested in several EU countries to evaluate its value.
Bejo expects TPS to have little or no impact on the well established vegetative tuber potato sector. Growing potatoes with TPS has advantages mainly in regions that are relatively difficult to access.
Oliver F1 is the first promising variety from Bejo’s TPS breeding program. Other varieties are currently being developed.
