Breeding starts with the flower
In potato breeding, everything revolves around creating strong, healthy, and future-proof varieties. That process does not begin underground, but rather above ground — with the flower.
A potato plant possesses both male and female characteristics. The pollen acts as the “father,” and the egg cell as the “mother.” In plant breeding, this is often referred to as a genitive: a variety or plant that provides specific traits, such as resistance, yield, or quality.
To direct the plant's entire energy towards flower formation, selected geniteurs are literally “tormented underground”. The plant is placed on a stone so that hardly any tuber formation takes place. As a result, virtually all energy goes to the above-ground part of the plant. The plants grow upwards along wires and can reach a height of up to 2.5 meters.
Flower clusters develop on these plants. Manual pollination then takes place. After pollination, a berry develops on the foliage — a small green fruit that strongly resembles a tomato. This is not surprising: the potato, like the tomato, belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae).
From seed to new potato variety
Years
experience
The harvested seeds are sown in pots in the greenhouse. From these, the first small plants emerge: the so-called greenhouse clones. These plants form mini-tubers that are later planted out again.
From that moment, the real selection process begins.
The young potatoes are planted in test fields, where characteristics are examined, such as:
- Resistance to diseases and viruses
- Yield
- Storability
- Processing properties
- Color, shape and quality
- Suitability for starch, fries, or crisps
Only a very small proportion of all seedlings ultimately prove interesting enough to proceed with. It is precisely this strict selection that forms the basis of strong varieties.
99.9% of our work is selecting and throwing away.
Focus on resistance
At Sloots Potato Breeding Company, there is a strong focus on resistances. Not only because this is important for the grower, but primarily because the sector is placing increasingly higher demands on sustainability, reliability, and crop security.
By breeding for natural resistances, varieties can cope better with:
- Late Blight
- Viruses
- Nematodes
- Common scab
- Drought or stress conditions
Solving cultivation problems with genetics and variety improvement — not with ever more crop protection products.
That makes resistance not only important for today's agriculture, but essential for the future of potato cultivation.
Why this is crucial for the industry
For processors of fries, chips, and potato products, everything revolves around reliability and continuity. A variety must not only grow well, but also perform predictably.
The industry is asking for varieties with:
- Consistent quality
- Good baking color
- High yield
- Uniformity
- Good storage properties
- Reduced losses during cultivation and processing
Strong resistances play an increasingly important role in this. After all, lower disease pressure means more stable crops, lower risks, and a more reliable end product. That is why Sloots continuously works on varieties that align with practical applications as well as market demands.
Practice begins outside
The trial fields form the heart of the selection. This shows which genetics actually perform under real-world conditions.
Thousands of seedlings and selections are evaluated annually at various locations.
What can be seen on the trial fields?
Depending on the time of year, the following are visible, among others:
- Differences in foliage development
- Disease resistance
- Tuber setting and uniformity
- Differences in color and quality
- Storage and processing properties
- Comparisons between varieties and selections
It is precisely in the field that it becomes clear which plants have potential — and which are immediately ruled out.
When are the trial fields of interest?
Spring
- Rise & growth
- Differences in vitality visible
Summer
- Foliage development & resistances
- Bloom & growth power
Fall
- Harvesting & tuber assessment
- Quality & yield analysis
