A Review of Potato Seed Systems and Germplasm Conservation in Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the second most important staple food crop after maize and plays a major role in national food and nutritional security. However, there is an inadequate supply of certified seeds, with informal sources (farm-saved, local markets, or neighbors) accounting for 99% of the seeds available to farmers. Most farmers conserve potato seeds on-farm as tubers, using simple methods such as spreading them on the floor, storing them in pits lined with dry leaves and covered with straw, or placing them in gunny bags or wooden crates. Use of diffused light stores (DLS) is the recommended method of seed potato storage, as it lengthens the storage period and reduces storage losses. In the National Potato Research Program in KARI, potato germplasm is conserved in ex situ field genebanks in the form of tubers, which are planted out regularly or as in vitro plantlets.

KEYTERMS:

• conservation
• germplasm
• Irish potatoes
• Kenya
• seed systems

Notes

∗Variety developed in collaboration with CIP.

∗∗Prereleased; hence, has not been accepted as a variety but would be officially released once KARI bulked sufficient seed stock.