| Technology package | LATE BLIGHT RESISTANT POTATOES |
| Summary | Four potato varieties with resistance to Potato Late Blight (PLB) disease have been released by NARI. NP1 and NP2 were provisionally released in 2011 and NP3 and NP4 in 2013. In 2003, the PLB disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans swept the country and crippled the thriving potato (K15 million) industry. A major contributing factor was the widespread use of the potato variety Sequoia which is highly susceptible to PLB. In order to address the problem, 59 clones bred for PLB resistance were brought in from the International Potato Centre, Peru for evaluation. Best performing clones in terms of high level of PLB resistance, yield, eating and processing quality and other criteria were identified through trials on station and testing in on-farm participatory trials across the Highlands (Enga, Western and Eastern Highlands and Kabwum in Morobe Province over eight years. 59 clones bred for PLB resistance were brought in from CIP Peru for evaluation. Major partners in this research for development work were NARI, FPDA and the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia with financial and technical support from ACIAR. This work started in November 2004 with the introduction of PLB resistant clones from CIP. The releases originated as CIP clones: 384298.56 (NP1), 393077.54 (NP2), 391058.175 (NP3) and 392657.171 (NP4). |
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