Potato and Tuber Crops

Varieties of potato

Potato Varieties

• Most of the improved potato varieties are developed at the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Kufri, Shimla.
• Majority of early varieties are clonal selections derived from foreign varieties or from popular acclimatized varieties that survived after introduction.
• Varieties are distinguished based on their habit, pigmentation of stem, leaf, flower and shape, size, colour and depth of eyes and flesh colour of tubers.
• A large number of earlier varieties either developed at CPRI, Shimla or evolved as famous selections from improved varieties were replaced by new improved varieties.
• Satha, Gola, Up-to-date, Phulva, Great Scot, President, Kufri Kuber, Kufri Kisan, Kufri Neela, Kufri Khasi-Garo, Kufri Naveen, Kufri Chamatkar, Kufri Neelmani, Kufri Sheetman, Kufri Alankar, Kufri Jeevan, Kufri Moti, Kufri Lavkar and Kufri Dewa are a few of the earlier varieties.
• Of the Indian potato varieties,
1. 8 are early- (70-80 days),
2. 21 medium-(90-100 days) and
3. 16 late-(100-110 days) maturing.
4. About 40 varieties possess white or yellow skin, whereas five possess red tuber skin.
5. Most of these varieties possess resistance/tolerance to major pests and diseases.