The Latest Preventive Measures for Potato Variety Degeneration
Potato degeneration is a common phenomenon in production, and its direct manifestations are deformed plant growth, small tubers, and a large drop in yield, seriously affecting farmers' income. The main cause of potato degeneration is planting the same variety year after year, which leads to the gradual accumulation of viruses. So how can potato variety degeneration be prevented? Let's take a look together.
1. Choose varieties with strong disease resistance
Different potato varieties have different resistance to viral diseases. Some varieties with strong disease resistance can be planted continuously for three years and still maintain a relatively high yield, but some varieties will suffer a large yield reduction after being planted for two years. Therefore, choosing varieties with strong disease resistance is extremely critical. At the same time, when planting, attention should be paid to selecting seed potatoes with a relatively good appearance for seed retention, which can also appropriately extend the high-yield period. In addition, attention to soil disinfection and sterilization can correspondingly increase the high-yield period and delay variety degeneration.
2. Frequently change varieties
The best way to avoid potato variety degeneration is to frequently change varieties. This is the most effective method to prevent variety degeneration. When many friends buy seeds, producers often suggest that they buy different varieties, but some friends think they are being deceived and believe that the cost of changing seeds is worth it compared with the losses caused by production. This is a wrong idea. In production, varieties must be changed frequently, preferably once every 1-2 years.
3. Cultivate virus-free varieties
Research has found that the root tips, stem tips, and other parts of the potato with strong meristematic ability do not contain viruses, and the probability of virus infection is very low. Therefore, these parts of the potato can be used for virus-free production, and then seedlings cultivated through tissue culture can be used for production. Such seedlings will not carry pathogens. These are virus-free seedlings.
4. Control disease occurrence
Virus infection is mainly caused by poor control of field disease conditions, resulting in the accumulation of viral diseases year after year. The best way to reduce variety degeneration is to control the occurrence of disease in the field. Especially for virus infection, plants found to be infected with the virus should be pulled out promptly and taken out of the field to be burned or buried deeply, and then the diseased holes should be sprayed with chemicals or treated with scattered lime to prevent the spread of the disease. If there are already signs of spread, comprehensive chemical spraying should be carried out for prevention and control, and the sooner the better.
The above is an introduction to preventive measures for potato variety degeneration. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.