Seed potatoes the size of a pea

African countries, which are producing increasing amounts of potatoes and therefore need to import significant quantities of seed each year, will be interested in potato >, the size of a pea. These microtubers measure 4-12 mm and weigh less than a gram so they are not nearly so bulky as conventional seed potatoes and are much cheaper to transport. A pack of 7-10 kg contains the 10 000 seed tubers necessary to plant one hectare. These new microtubers have been created in the laboratory by removing the > (growing points) from normal seed potatoes and growing them in test-tiubes filled with a nutritive medium. Tiny plantlets form and, by reducing duration of illumination and manipulating the culture medium, microtubers can be induced and be ready for harvesting a few weeks later. They can be stored like conventional seed potatoes. Other advantages of microtubers are that they can be grown from disease-free parents and they can be produced all the year round. For more details, contact: PHYTOTEC - Chaussee romaine 77 - B-5800 Gembloux - BELGIUMAfrican countries, which are producing increasing amounts of potatoes and therefore need to import significant quantities of seed each year, will be interested in potato >, the size of a pea. These microtubers measure 4-12 mm and weigh..