FURTHER SPRAY/NON SPRAY TRIALS ON POTATO CROPS SHOW YIELDS CAN BE MORE THAN DOUBLED AND HISTORIC CHALLENGES OVERCOME
THE introduction of resistant potato varieties to Kenyan farms has brought about ‘profound benefits’ for growers, according to breeder Solynta.
Kenyan growers have long experienced shortages of seed tubers and other challenges in obtaining quality materials to grow their crops. During an extensive spray/no spray trial in Limuru, Kenya, more solid evidence emerged relating to better yields and a reduced need for chemical inputs, the seed company stated.
The trial was arranged in Limuru in the spring of 2024 using G1 seed tubers saved from the previous season. These seed tubers were produced from Solynta’s disease-free true potato seeds. Three hybrid potato varieties, all with double-stack resistances against late blight, were planted alongside the Kenyan favourite potato variety, Shangi.
With the appearance of late blight in the field after three weeks, the non-sprayed Shangi soon died. The Solynta non-GMO hybrid varieties with double stack genetic resistances, however, showed remarkable resilience, yielding more than double the average Kenyan potato yield of 10 metric tons per hectare.
After 100 days, the inner two rows of a four-row plot of each hybrid variety and Shangi were harvested.
Both SOLHY017 and SOLHY016, advanced experimental hybrids, produced twice the yield of the market standard Shangi under no-spray conditions, a distinct advantage to those growers with limited access to fungicides.
Gerald Mutua, Director at CropCare Technologies in Kenya, an agri-business support service company aimed at establishing sustainable market linkages to support smallholder farmers in Kenya, said it was a vital step forward in helping local growers overcome two of the most significant challenges they face in potato production: Access to high-quality planting material and the devastating effects of Late Blight.
“These twin challenges have long limited yields for Kenyan farmers, but with Solynta’s hybrid varieties, growers can now produce more resilient, disease-resistant crops, paving the way for a stronger, more sustainable agricultural sector. This is the kind of progress that will empower local farmers and build a resilient agricultural future,” he said.
Charles Miller, Director of Strategic Alliances and Development at Solynta, said making quality starting material available to Kenyan potato growers will empower them to produce sufficient potatoes, with limited or no need for fungicides.
“Not only will these new hybrids improve their own livelihoods, but they will provide them with strong harvests with which to feed their communities,” she said.
Both the SOLHY016 and SOLHY017 varieties are currently undergoing registration with KEPHIS, the Kenyan regulatory authority, and will be commercialised once registration is completed.
Solynta’s varieties also performed well when treated with fungicide, despite not needing the treatment to survive late blight.
“Even under fully managed and sprayed conditions, our varieties outperformed the average standard yield in Kenya, with yields more than four times the average. This indicates that Solynta’s hybrid technology can be used by all growers, even in challenging environments and in areas under high disease pressure,” Charles said.
Solynta recently registered the first three of its hybrid potato varieties in Kenya. These three potato varieties are now available to growers in Kenya.
