PROSPECTS OF INCREASING POTATO PRODUCTION IN MAURITIUS WITH CLONES INTRODUCED THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL POTATO CENTER

Eleven potato clones, namely Caxamarca, Molinera, BR 63–76, BR 69–50, DTO-28, Mariva, Huancayo, Coliban, Sequoia, Sebago and Tasman, were received through the International Potato Center.
After observation in quarantine they were bulked in the field in 1979 and 1980 where they became infected to various degrees with potato virus Y. Clone Mariva was so highly infected with the virus that it was subsequently destroyed.
In field tests clone BR 63–76 proved highly tolerant to bacterial wilt, Pseudomonas solanacearum, and highly resistant to late blight, Phytophthora infestans, the two most important potato diseases in Mauritius.
Although it is outyielded in the absence of these diseases by cultivars currently grown such as Up-to-date and Spunta, the cultivation of BR 63–76 on a large scale is contemplated.
It is thought that potato production can be increased by growing BR 63–76 in soils where bacterial wilt is a serious hazard to potato growing.
Furthermore, the production season can be extended, with earlier planting in March-April in the first season and harvesting later at the end of the second season in November-December.
At these periods the high incidence of bacterial wilt, which is favoured by summer temperatures and rainfall, now makes potato cultivation risky, when not totally impracticable throughout Mauritius.

IX African Symposium on Horticultural Crops

L.J.C. Autrey, P. Ferré, C. Ricaud

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1985.153.42