Putting potato seed on trial
Washington Ag Today May 6, 2011 Every year since 1968 Washington State University has been doing a commercial potato seed lot trial with funding from the Washington State Potato Commission. WSU’s Mark Pavek explains the purpose behind the trial, which involves planting samples from the seed received by cutters and in some cases growers. Pavek: “We look at growth compromising factors with each seed lot, which includes disease, virus, herbicide damage, frost damage and seed piece handling. In the short of it poor quality seed can impact commercial grower income and that is what we are concerned about. And because a lot Washington potato growers get their seed lots from out of the state this is kind of a quality control trial where we look at samples of their seed lots and make sure what they are getting is the best they can get.” And if there are problems with a seed lot? Pavek: “If there is an issue in a seedlot from a seed grower wherever he is, the commercial grower that bought that seed can show the seed grower the results at our field day and they can discuss what need to be improve for the next year.” Pavek says the seed certifying agency in the state the seed originated may also take steps to improve seed quality based on information from the trial. This year’s seed lot trial field day at WSU’s Othello Research Unit is coming up June 23rd. That’s Washington Ag Today. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net.
