he potato variety Gardena has been called the potato of the future. It is the result of the previously adopted Polish breeding strategy. It was selected on the basis of the identification of DNA molecular markers (methods of identifying genetic factors that determine the features of resistance in plant organisms). It is a medium early edible variety with an oval shape, shallow eyes, smooth, red skin and yellow flesh. Its greatest advantage is resistance to the fungus organism Phytophthora infestans , the culprit of potato blight. What other pathogens is Gardena resistant to? What are the advantages and what is the weak point of this variety? Is it available for sale and where? I invite you to read the article.
THE PLACE OF ORIGIN OF THE GARDENA CULTIVAR AND ITS BREEDING
Gardena is the result of breeding work carried out by specialists in Zamarte Potato Breeding . She was selected using DNA markers. Gardena was entered into the national register of the Central Research Center for Cultivated Plants in 2018 . However, despite the excellent results, breeding work in this direction continues. Breeding aims to obtain the highest quality tubers, high yielding while maintaining or even improving resistance to dangerous potato pests. One of the directions of breeding is ecology. Gardena’s resistance to potato blight is currently rated by COBORU at 7, and according to scientists researching field resistance of potatoes, its resistance in Polish climatic conditions is 8.
The creator of the Gardena variety is Piotr Kamiński with a team of specialists. Recently, a project has been developed to select and improve agrotechnics in the ecology and production of Gardena and to improve the storage of tubers of this variety. The University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz takes part in it , and the work is under the patronage of prof. Małgorzata Szczepanek. The university has just obtained national-EU funding for the project and is at the forefront of the ranking list of the competition “Actions, RDP cooperation and financial support for research”.
GARDENA – A FEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE VARIETY
Gardena is a variety that stands out from other commonly grown potato varieties. Its characteristics are:
- medium -early to early variety – 99 days of vegetation
– edible: culinary type B-BC, taste 6.7
– flesh color yellow
– starch content 13.4%
– skin color – pink
– tuber morphology: oval shape, shallow eyes (7.2 ), smooth skin (rating 7.4)
– average yield according to COBOR 47.9 t / ha ; lower than the reference varieties
– medium-sized tubers
– variety tolerant of internal tuber defects.
RESISTANCE
– virus Y (PVY) -7
– potato nematode Globodera rostochiensis Ro1 – high resistance 9
– potato cancer Synchytrium endobioticum D1- resistant
– high resistance to late blight of potato Phytophthora infestans -7-8
– variety intended for organic farming.
THE SAME PLUSES OF GARDENS?
Gardena, hailed as a variety of the future, has many undoubted advantages that make it worth attention and disseminating information about it, but does it have any disadvantage, a disadvantage in cultivation, or does it cause at least one difficulty? I asked this question to Ms Aleksandra Bech – breeding specialist in Zamarte Potato Breeding: – The potato variety Gardena is a variety sensitive to mechanical damage , which can cause problems during storage . Well-kept and descaled soil should improve tuber health and reduce storage problems .
FOR WHICH FARMS?
Due to the high resistance to potato blight, the Gardena variety is recommended especially for farms with an ecological profile , as well as for low and medium area farms . Due to the reduced amount of spraying, Gardena is considered a safe, healthier and more valuable potato for the consumer. Therefore, it should find many buyers in times of fashionable healthy lifestyle and nutrition, and increasing demand for products of natural origin. \ Currently, work is underway on the development of ecological agents supporting the storage process of this variety of tubers.
PRICE AND DISTRIBUTION
Hodowli Ziemniaka Zamarte is the only distributor of Gardena potatoes. After its registration in 2018, in 2019 some tubers were transferred for further experiments, and some were sold to interested farmers.
This year, the price of Gardena has not been announced yet, but it will be known in November 2020. For information, please contact the sales representatives of Hodowla Ziemniaka Zamarte, the list of which can be found at the link: http : // frozen . com / contact
