Potato: Good Varieties of Potatoes in the Solanaceae Family and High-Yield Cultivation (with Variety Introductions)

The potato is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Solanum in the family Solanaceae, also known as didan, tudou , yangshanyu, etc. It is the fourth most important food crop in the world, after wheat, rice and maize, and together with wheat, rice, maize and sorghum it ranks among the world's five major crops. It originated in the Andean region of South America, and its history of artificial cultivation can be traced back at least to about 8000 to 5000 BC in southern Peru. Let us take a look below at which potato varieties are good!

Zaodabai

[Characteristics] The “Zaodabai” potato is an extremely early-maturing variety, with a growing period of 60 to 65 days. The tubers are oval, with white skin and white flesh, smooth skin and attractive tubers. Tuber set is concentrated, and the rate of large and medium tubers (marketable rate) is as high as more than 90%. It has good quality and good palatability.

[Yield] The “Zaodabai” potato has relatively wide adaptability and can be cultivated in both northern and southern China. It is suitable for cultivation with high water and fertilizer. The usual yield is 1500 kg per mu, and with high-yield cultivation it can reach more than 4000 kg.

[Cultivation] The “Zaodabai” potato uses virus-free seed potatoes; sun the seed potatoes to promote sprouting before sowing, and a planting density of about 4500 plants per mu is appropriate. Because tuber set is concentrated, the tubers are large and the yield is high, the cultivation technique should follow the principle of “deep planting, shallow covering, and multiple hillings of soil,” and attention should be paid to the control of potato late blight during the growing period.

Chaobai

[Characteristics] The “Chaobai” potato is an extremely early-maturing vegetable-type variety, bred by the Dalian Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Liaoning Province. The plants grow vigorously with strong growth, and the plant height is about 40 cm. The stems are green and thick, the leaves are broad, flat and spreading, and the leaf color is deep green. The flowers are white. Tuber set is concentrated, and the tubers are round. The skin is white and the flesh is white, large and uniform, the rate of large and medium tubers is 71 to 84%, the skin is smooth, the quality is relatively good, and the starch content is 12.5 to 13.4%.

[Yield] The “Chaobai” potato is suitable for planting in the two-crop regions and suburbs of Liaoning, Hebei, Jiangsu and Anpan, and the average yield per mu (1 mu) is about 1500 kg.

[Cultivation] The suitable planting density for the “Chaobai” potato is about 5000 plants per mu. Management should be strengthened during cultivation, with timely irrigation and heavy application of high-quality decomposed base fertilizer.

Zhongshu No. 2

[Characteristics] “Zhongshu No. 2” was bred by the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences through hybridization using LT-2 as the female parent and DTO-33 as the male parent. The plants are spreading type, with a plant height of 50 to 70 cm, thick main stems, and generally 3 to 4 stems when whole tubers are planted, with stems of light purplish-brown color. The leaf color is dark green. The corolla is purplish-red, the anthers are orange-yellow, there is abundant pollen, and the ability to set fruit naturally is strong; there are many flowers, the berries are large, and there are many seeds. The tubers are oblate, the skin and flesh are light yellow, the skin is smooth, and the eyes are relatively shallow, etc.

[Yield] The tubers of “Zhongshu No. 2” have good quality, with a starch content of 14 to 17%, vitamin C 80 ml per 100 g of fresh tubers, and a reducing sugar content of less than 0.2%, making it suitable for eating and processing. The growing period from emergence to maturity is about 50 to 60 days. Field growth and development are vigorous. Tuber set is concentrated, the tubers are large and uniform, with 4 to 6 tubers per plant, and the dormancy period is short, as it can pass dormancy in 40 days; the eating quality is excellent and it is resistant to storage. The usual yield is 1500 to 2500 kg per mu.

[Cultivation] “Zhongshu No. 2” is suitable for winter cultivation in our region and can be planted somewhat densely, with 4000 to 4500 plants per mu being appropriate. Cultivation requires soil with medium to high fertility, and sufficient fertilizer and water are needed during the growing period. It is not suitable for dryland cultivation and can be used for intercropping and relay intercropping with other crops. Cultivation management should follow a continuous promotion approach, growing it as an early-maturing vegetable.

Zhongshu No. 4

[Characteristics] “Zhongshu No. 4” was bred by the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 1995 and is an extremely early-maturing type variety. It takes about 60 days from emergence to maturity. The growth vigor is relatively strong. The plant type is upright, with a plant height of about 50 cm and few branches; the stems are green with a light purple base. The leaves are dark green, the compound leaves are upright and medium in size, the leaf margins are flat, and the corolla is light purple and can set fruit naturally.

[Yield] The tubers of “Zhongshu No. 4” are oblong, with light yellow skin and light yellow flesh, smooth skin, large and uniform, and few and shallow eyes, with concentrated tuber set. The tuber dormancy period is about 60 days, it is tolerant of poor soil, and the quality when steamed is excellent. The usual yield is about 1500 kg per mu.

[Cultivation] “Zhongshu No. 4” is planted at 4500 to 5000 plants per mu. Promote sprouting before sowing, apply base fertilizer, strengthen early-stage management, and timely earth up and cultivate to promote early plant development and early tuber set; irrigate in time during the tuber-setting stage and the tuber-bulking stage, and stop irrigation one week before harvest to facilitate harvest and storage. It is suitable for intercropping and relay intercropping with crops such as cotton and maize.

Kexin No. 4

[Characteristics] “Kexin No. 4” was bred by the Potato Research Institute of the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 1963 through hybridization using “Baitouweng” as the female parent and “Katading” as the male parent. The plant type is spreading, with few branches, and the plant height is about 60 cm; the stems are green, the growth vigor is medium, the leaves are light green, and the pubescence is moderately abundant. The compound leaves are medium in size, the leaf margins are flat, there are 4 pairs of lateral leaflets, and the arrangement is moderately dense. The peduncle of the inflorescence is medium in size and uniform. The corolla is white, the anthers are yellow-green, there is little pollen, and generally there are no berries.

[Yield] The tubers of “Kexin No. 4” are oblate, with yellow skin that is netted, and the flesh is light yellow; the number of eyes is medium and the eyes are shallow, tuber set is concentrated, and the tubers are medium in size and relatively uniform. The tuber dormancy period is short, and it is extremely resistant to storage. It is early-maturing, with a growing period of about 70 days. The tubers taste good, and the quality when steamed is excellent. The usual yield is about 1500 kg per mu; for conventional tillage cultivation, about 4500 plants per mu is appropriate, and for no-till cultivation, about 6000 plants per mu is appropriate.

[Cultivation] “Kexin No. 4” is suitable for autumn and winter planting in our region. The variety is early-maturing and the plants are relatively short, so it should be planted somewhat densely. High-quality virus-free seed potatoes must be used in production, and second-level foundation seed and first-level seed potatoes can be selected for use. It is suitable for planting in plots with medium or higher fertility, requires sufficient water during the growing period, and is not suitable for planting in dry areas. Prevent late blight, ring rot and bacterial wilt early.

Dongnong No. 303

[Characteristics] “Dongnong No. 303” is extremely early-maturing, and is harvested 55 to 60 days after emergence. The plant height is about 45 cm, the stems are upright and green, the number of branches is medium, there are relatively many compound leaves, the leaf margins are flat, and the growth vigor is strong. The corolla is white, the anthers are yellow-green, and it cannot set fruit naturally. The tubers are oval and medium in size, with yellow skin and yellow flesh, smooth skin, shallow eyes, and concentrated tuber set.

[Yield] “Dongnong No. 303” is suitable for food processing and export. The usual yield is 1500 to 2000 kg per mu, and with high-yield cultivation it can reach more than 2500 kg per mu. For conventional tillage cultivation, 4000 to 4500 plants per mu is appropriate, and for no-till cultivation, 6000 to 6500 plants per mu is appropriate.

[Cultivation] “Dongnong No. 303” is suitable for autumn and winter planting in our region, and is an ideal variety for autumn planting. It is early-maturing and the plants are relatively short, so it should be planted somewhat densely. High-quality virus-free seed potatoes must be used in production, and second-level foundation seed and first-level seed potatoes can be selected for use. It is suitable for planting in plots with medium or higher fertility, requires sufficient water during the growing period, and is not suitable for planting in dry areas. Prevent late blight, ring rot and bacterial wilt early.

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