Evaluation of Indian and exotic potato varieties for sustaining processing industries in North-western plains of India

Ten indigenous and exotic potato varieties were evaluated for their yield, processing characters and storage behaviour under room temperature for two years at CPRI campus, Modipuram in West-central plains. The study clearly demonstrated that it is possible to identify and cultivate a suitable variety for producing potatoes for processing even in cooler West-central plain. Kufri Chipsona-1 (Indian) and cv. Atlantic (American) produced high dry matter (>20%), low reducing sugars, acceptable chips and showed good storability under ordinary storage at ambient temperatures. However, cv. Kufri Chipsona-1 having high resistance to late blight with better total yields would be preferred by the farmers. The commercial cultivation of cv. Kufri Chipsona-1 in West-central plains would not only ensure a steady supply of raw material to the processing units located in North-western plains but will provide the much needed raw material at a cheaper transportation cost.