This book provides basic knowledge on how to produce, multiply and use propagation material in seed potato production and supply systems world wide. Healthy, vigorous seed tubers are essential in potato production. Producing them used to be expensive and difficult. Multiplication rates in the field are low, seed-borne diseases are numerous and seed tubers lose quality during storage between growing seasons. Recently, novel methods of multiplication have revolutionised the seed potato industry. This has resulted in a diversity of seed production systems adjusted to the local potential and needs. This book summarises the current knowledge and assesses the efficient use of modern technology in different stages of seed production. It describes in detail what seed quality means, how (pre-)basic seed can be produced, how this can be multiplied, and how seed health is maintained. It also describes diverse examples of seed supply systems in different regions of the world. The book is aimed at agronomists, farm advisors, seed producers, breeders, and at those involved in seed policies, seed programme development and seed trade. Also recommended for (international) students in agronomy, horticulture and plant breeding.

This book provides basic knowledge on how to produce, multiply and use propagation material in seed potato production and supply systems world wide. Healthy, vigorous seed tubers are essential in potato production. Producing them used to be expensive and difficult. Multiplication rates in the field are low, seed-borne diseases are numerous and seed tubers lose quality during storage between growing seasons. Recently, novel methods of multiplication have revolutionised the seed potato industry. This has resulted in a diversity of seed production systems adjusted to the local potential and needs. This book summarises the current knowledge and assesses the efficient use of modern technology in different stages of seed production. It describes in detail what seed quality means, how (pre-)basic seed can be produced, how this can be multiplied, and how seed health is maintained. It also describes diverse examples of seed supply systems in different regions of the world. The book is aimed at agronomists, farm advisors, seed producers, breeders, and at those involved in seed policies, seed programme development and seed trade. Also recommended for (international) students in agronomy, horticulture and plant breeding.

"This comprehensive book is the result of the Potato Russia international conference that took place in August 2007 in Moscow. It begins with a series of papers that give an excellent overview of consumer behaviour and marketing with examples from various countries in the world. The quality of processing and ware potato and methods of quantifying it, is addressed by papers that highlight its need and reveal new approaches and techniques. The newest developments in technology, mechanization and storage are highlighted in papers from eastern and western Europe. The importance and benefits of having adequately functioning seed potato systems with up to date rapid multiplication systems is shown in chapters from various countries with a special contribution on the commercial quality standards of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Developments of recent agronomic and crop management practices are illustrated with examples of countries in technological and market transition. Innovations in crop protection put special emphasis on diagnostics and detection of resistance levels, among others, against wart. The extensive Russian breeding programmes - with value for the global potato community are highlighted in the breeding section with additional papers from Japan and the Netherlands. The book ends with a series of papers on molecular aspects of innovative breeding. This book is of wide and ongoing interest to stakeholders around the world who are interested in all aspects of the rapidly evolving potato supply chains such as potato producers, breeding, chemical and machinery companies and potato specialists of all disciplines."

Developments in potato chemistry, including identification and use of the functional components of potatoes, genetic improvements and modifications that increase their suitability for food and non-food applications, the use of starch chemistry in non-food industry and methods of sensory and objective measurement have led to new and important uses for this crop. Advances in Potato Chemistry and Technology presents the most current information available in one convenient resource.The expert coverage includes details on findings related to potato composition, new methods of quality determination of potato tubers, genetic and agronomic improvements, use of specific potato cultivars and their starches, flours for specific food and non-food applications, and quality measurement methods for potato products. Covers potato chemistry in detail, providing key understanding of the role of chemical compositions on emerging uses for specific food and non-food applications Presents coverage of developing areas, related to potato production and processing including genetic modification of potatoes, laboratory and industry scale sophistication, and modern quality measurement techniques to help producers identify appropriate varieties based on anticipated use Explores novel application uses of potatoes and potato by-products to help producers identify potential areas for development of potato variety and structure

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This book provides a fresh, updated and science-based perspective on the current status and prospects of the diverse array of topics related to the potato, and was written by distinguished scientists with hands-on global experience in research aspects related to potato. The potato is the third most important global food crop in terms of consumption. Being the only vegetatively propagated species among the world’s main five staple crops creates both issues and opportunities for the potato: on the one hand, this constrains the speed of its geographic expansion and its options for international commercialization and distribution when compared with commodity crops such as maize, wheat or rice. On the other, it provides an effective insulation against speculation and unforeseen spikes in commodity prices, since the potato does not represent a good traded on global markets. These two factors highlight the underappreciated and underrated role of the potato as a dependable nutrition security crop, one that can mitigate turmoil in world food supply and demand and political instability in some developing countries. Increasingly, the global role of the potato has expanded from a profitable crop in developing countries to a crop providing income and nutrition security in developing ones. This book will appeal to academics and students of crop sciences, but also policy makers and other stakeholders involved in the potato and its contribution to humankind’s food security.

The book ends with a series of papers on molecular aspects of innovative breeding.