Australia: Expert help for WA seed potato producers

The Department of Agriculture and Food has invited a world leader in seed potato physiology to share his expertise with WA growers this month.

DAFWA research officer Andrew Taylor said the visit would provide an opportunity for potato growers to gain first-hand practical information to help boost their businesses.

“Western Australia has a strong reputation for seed potato quality and exports seed potatoes overseas and interstate,” Mr Taylor said.

“We currently account for more than 70 per cent of Australian seed potato exports but there are opportunities to do a little better and this will help.”

Professor Rick Knowles, Chair of the Department of Horticulture at Washington State University in the United States, will visit WA between 16 and 20 February.

The main focus will be a field day at the Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute on Wednesday 18 February where a demonstration plot has been established to allow growers to view information presented on the day.

Mr Taylor said seed potatoes need to be grown in areas such as WA that are low in pests and diseases.

“One aspect of seed potato production that is becoming more important is the vigour, or physiological age of the seed,” Mr Taylor said.

“Vigour is determined by the temperature the seed experiences from the time it is separated from the parent plant until it is replanted. Two lots of seed may be harvested and planted at the same time but if their storage conditions vary they will perform differently.” 

Professor Knowles has established the optimum manipulation of storage conditions for seed potatoes to maximise returns in some north American markets. The storage conditions differ according to variety and end use, whether for table potatoes or for French fry processing. 

He will present information to WA growers on how to measure potato physiological age and successfully manipulate it for different target markets.

“Through better understanding of how to manipulate the physiological age of potato tubers, WA growers could provide a higher quality product to export markets,” Mr Taylor added.

The visit is part of the Department of Agriculture and Food’s visiting specialist program supported by the WA Seed Potato Producers Inc. (WASPP).

The Seed potato ageing field day is on at 10am, Wednesday 18 February 2015 at the Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute, South West Highway, Manjimup. RSVP to 9777 0000 or manjimupdo@agric.wa.gov.au BBQ lunch provided by WASPP.