How to use this catalogue
This catalogue describes 116 varieties, arranged in alphabetical order. It specifies
agricultural and morphological characteristics of each variety, accompanied by an
illustration of the sprout and the tuber. Preceding the descriptions is a survey of the
varietal characteristics presented in a table, enabling you to compare the various
varieties and their characteristics at a glance. Towards the end of the catalogue you
will find a survey of the varieties along with their breeders and representatives. The
catalogue ends with the addresses of the representatives, exporters and relevant
organisations.
How to find the variety you want
It's very easy to find the seed potato you want. All you have to do is determine what
requirements the variety must meet by considering your local cultivation conditions,
envisaged sales and the product's intended use. This way you will arrive at a set of
characteristics that your potato must meet.
The most important characteristic of ware potatoes is a good consumption quality -
i.e. good cooking behaviour and a good flavour. Productivity is of course a key factor,
too. But even more important in view of the current trend towards minimisation
of the use of fertilisers and crop protection agents is resistance to diseases,
in particular late blight, virus diseases and nematodes. What is also becoming
increasingly important now that potatoes are offered for sale as washed produce in
consumer units in supermarkets is the tubers' appearance.
For the processing industry a distinction must be made between French fries and
crisps because the potatoes needed by the manufacturers of the two different
products must meet different requirements. Generally speaking, productivity and
resistance to diseases and pests are of prime importance in the case of these
potatoes, too. Other key factors are dry matter content, tubershape, the percentage
of large tubers and of course a low reducing sugar content.
Over the years, the potato starch industry has evolved from a seasonal industry to a
more permanent processing industry. Besides the highest possible starch yield per
hectare, keeping quality has therefore become particularly important. Diseases and
pests play a role in the cultivation of these potatoes, too, again making resistance a
major concern, in particular resistance to late blight and nematodes. Resistance to
wart disease is also becoming an increasingly desirable characteristic.
Agricultural characteristics
The agricultural characteristics are specified per variety. They are also given in the
table preceding the descriptions. The following characteristics are specified:
- maturity,
- tubers (shape, size, colour of the skin and flesh, depth of the eyes),
- yield (of a mature crop),
- dry matter content,
- consumption quality (cooking behaviour and colour after cooking),
- foliage development,
- resistance to e.g. leaf roll virus, A ,X and Yn viruses, late blight, wart disease,
potato cyst nematodes, scab and internal bruising.
The provided agricultural information is based on the Rassenlijst
Landbouwgewassen (List of Varieties of Agricultural Crops) of 2007 and/or was
supplied by the breeders concerned. Naktuinbouw also provided research data.
The figures given for many characteristics in the tables apply to Dutch climate
conditions. Varieties may show different behaviour under different climate
conditions. Even so, the table gives a good indication of the behaviour that is to be
expected with respect to most characteristics.
Morphological characteristics
The following morphological characteristics are given in the catalogue:
- plant characteristics such as size of the leaves, inflorescence,
- tuber characteristics such as shape, colour of the flesh and skin,
- sprout characteristics such as shape, colour and pubescence.
The morphological characteristics specified in this catalogue were provided by
Naktuinbouw. Naktuinbouw's Rassen & Proeven (Varieties & Trials) is the only
organisation in the Netherlands authorised to test cultivated vegetable, agricultural
and ornamental products to assess their DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity & Stability)
for registration and/or for the purpose of granting plant breeders' rights. The
assessments are commissioned by the national and European (registration)
authorities, i.e. the Dutch Raad voor Plantenrassen (RvP; Board for Plant Varieties)
and the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO).
The aim of this DUS testing is to determine whether a variety qualifies
for registration and plant breeders' rights and inclusion in the Nederlands
Rassenregister (NRR; Dutch List of Varieties). Naktuinbouw performs the DUS tests
for the Dutch potato sector, but also for sectors in Belgium, Denmark and France, via
bilateral agreements between the RvP and these countries. The DUS tests comply
with the guidelines of the UPOV and/or protocols of the CPVO. In addition to this
DUS testing, the RvP and CPVO also test submitted varieties to assess their novelty
and correct nomenclature.
