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Niğde Potato Research Institute, Türkiye’s first and only research institution in the field of potatoes, has achieved another important success in domestic and national agriculture. The first domestic potato variety developed by the Institute has been registered under the name ‘Uğur’.
In 2023, ‘Uğur’, which was applied for industrial use (chips and fingerling potatoes), was introduced to Turkish agriculture with the completion of the registration process. Thus, the number of domestic and national potato varieties registered by the Institute has reached 11.
Uğur Pırlak, Director of Niğde Potato Research Institute, stated that 8 of the 11 domestic potato varieties developed as a result of breeding studies were transferred to private domestic companies and 3 varieties were offered for sale.
Stating that the new varieties will be offered for sale when the certification and seed production of the new varieties are completed, Pırlak said, “Studies are continuing on new varieties that are high-yielding, high storage resistance, resistant to diseases and pests for the potato sector and producers.”
Underlining that they intensified their studies on industrial varieties and developed Uğur, the first potato variety in chips, Pırlak added, “As a result of our breeding studies, we registered the first chips variety and started seed production. We will bring this variety to our sector by tendering it to our local companies.”
“Potato plant is actually a difficult plant and its breeding takes a long time. Approximately potato breeding takes 10-12 years. We are trying to shorten this period by using modern techniques. After we register a variety, it takes 6 years until it reaches a certified level. We plant and harvest the same seed for 6 years and we are certified,” Pırlak concluded…
