Potato is important crop in global food system ranking first in vegetable production and area growing @ 4.5 % per annum.

1
Introduction

• Potato is important crop in global food system
  ranking first in vegetable production and area
  growing _at_ 4.5 per annum.
• One of the main cash crop for the farmers in
  developing nations with easy cultivation.
• True potato seed are tiny seeds harvested from
  berries produced on potato plants and usually
  sown in seedbeds 3-4 weeks prior to potato
  planting season in monsoon.
• Potato plants in beds produces small and tiny
  tubers, which are transplanted into the main
  field.

2
True Potato Seed (TPS)

• TPS are potato seeds developed from open
  pollinated flowers of desired potato varieties by
  crossing male and female lines of potato plants.
• TPS is used as seed material for potato
  cultivation and in plant breeding trials.
• TPS is method of sexual reproduction and plants
  obtained are genetically heterogenous.

True Potato Seeds
3
Advantages of True Potato Seed

• One hectare field require 100 grams of true
  potato seed instead of 2 to 2.5 tons of tubers.
  Seed easy to transport, store and handle.
• TPS are healthy seed of hybrid varieties which
  are resistant to pests and disease.
• TPS reduces the potato crop production cost by 55
  thus increasing the net profit.
• Disadvantages of True Potato Seed
• TPS potato crop has a longer duration, less
  uniform in size, color and susceptible to
  environmental stresses.

4
TPS Planting Methods

• Direct sowing of seed in the main field or
  Raising seedlings in seedbeds and then
  transplanting in field.
• Growing seedlings in nurseries at high densities
  to produce seed tubers and then planting these
  tubers into main field.
• Harvest TPS from Fruit
• Ripe, soft potato fruits are harvested, put in a
  kitchen blender along with sufficient water and
  ground enough to break up the fruits and liberate
  the seeds.
• Leave this mixture in a plastic bowl to ferment
  for a day. When the seeds sink, separate, clean
  and dry them on a tissue paper.