In Punjab research on potato crop started around 1931 which primarily comprised of testing local as well as exotic germplasm for selection of desirable varieties. Prior to independence Research Institute, Pusa with its sub-stations at Shimla and Madras were exclusively engaged in conducting research on potato. Main problems in potato cultivation in Punjab was availability of seed potato which was received from Dera Dun, Shimla, Farrukhabad and Patna After independence in West Pakistan research on potato remained almost ignored for some years. Efforts were made by the Department of Agriculture, Punjab to tackle the problem. The first step taken in this regard was to introduce potato cultivation in Murree Hills and to use its seed potato for planting the spring crop in plains of Punjab on trial basis. From experimentation, very encouraging results were obtained. This successful introduction of potato crop helped to carry out independent research on potato crop in the country and found missing links between spring and autumn crops of potato. Research on potato was initiated on a limited scale by the Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute, Lyallpur (Faisalabad) in the year 1950-51. The work carried out during subsequent years contributed a lot for its betterment. Potato Research Station was initially established during 1958-59 by the Federal Government of Pakistan under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at Murree. Because the weather conditions of Murree were conducive to flowering and berries formation. So, to evolve new high yielding Potato varieties, hybridization work was started at Murree along with the introduction and acclimatization of Potato material from abroad. During 1964, this scheme was divided in to four parts and major share was handed over to Punjab Province. Beside this, the head quarter of the Potato Botanist was shifted at Sialkot. Because at that time 25% of total area under potato crop was cultivated in District Sialkot. After that, during 1969 to strengthen the Research Work on potato crop a new scheme entitled, “Accelerated potato improvement and production project” was got approved by the Government. In the world, there are mono crop institutes of the potato crop. So, keeping in view the importance of the potato crop and its scope in Pakistan, Govt. of the Punjab has established Potato Research Institute at Sahiwal and all resources of the Tobacco Research Station, Sahiwal were shifted to this Institute. Now PRI, Sahiwal is working with following setup.
Mission
- To strengthen research activities for increasing Potato productivity
- To develop high yielding & short duration varieties tolerant/more resistant to frost, fungal, bacterial and viral diseases
- Research on potato for processing industry /value addition
- Standardization of production technology for new varieties
- Dissemination of production technology through extension staff, farmer days, seminars, radio & TV talks and publications
- Pre basic and basic seed production
Objectives
- Development of high yielding varieties tolerant to frost, fungal, bacterial and viral diseases
- Research on potato for processing industry
- Pre-basic and basic seed potato production
- Standardization of production technology for new potato varieties
- Dissemination of production technology through extension staff, farmer days, seminars, radio & TV talks and publications
Research Activities
Tissue Culture
Potato tissue culture is on small /practical scale at Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal with following objectives:
- Production of disease free seed potatoes
- Rapid multiplication of clones
- All the year round propagation of clones
Plant Pathology
Pathological studies are carried out for control of fungal, viral, bacterial & other diseases and to screen out the resistant / tolerant potato genotypes against different diseases.
Value Addition
\Quality evaluation like shelf life at ambient temperature, eye sprouting, shrinkage, reducing sugar, chip yield, chipping quality, specific gravity, dry matter contents, frying time, boiling time, flavor, color, taste, texture is carried out at Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal.
Agronomy
Agronomic studies are conducted for standardization of package of crop production technology for new elite strains and low cost average production technologies.
Adaptability Testing
Adaptability of different exotic potato varieties imported by different potato seed companies is tested.
Achievements
Following are the research achievements of the institute:
SH-5
- High yield
- Dark red skin color
- Early bulking
- Large, oval tubers
- Light yellow flash color
- Yield potential 28t/ha
PRI-Red
- High yield
- Red skin color
- Tolerance against frost & diseases
- Slightly oblong tubers
- Superficial eyes
- Yellowish flash
- Good cooking & storage quality
- Matures in 100-110 days
- Suitable for plain & hilly areas
- Yield potential 44.5 t/ha
Ruby
- High yield
- Red skin color
- Tolerant to frost & diseases
- Slightly oval tubers
- Superficial eyes
- Yellowish flash
- About 20% dry matter
- Good for Cooking, chips making & storage
- Matures in 100-110 days
- Suitable for plain & hilly areas
Sadaf
- High yield
- White skin color
- Tolerant to frost & diseases
- Slightly oval tubers
- Superficial eyes
- Whitish flash
- About 21% dry matter
- Matures in 90-100 days
- Suitable for plain & hilly areas
- Yield potential 35t/ha
Sialkot Red
- High yield
- Red skin color
- Tolerance against frost & diseases
- Oblong tubers
- Shallow eyes
- Brownish pink flash
- Good cooking & storage quality
- Matures in 90-100 days
- Suitable for plain areas
- Yield potential 40t/ha
Cosmo
- High yielding
- Late maturing 110-120 days
- Tolerant to biotic & abiotic stress
- Pinkish yellow skin color
- Oval round tubers
- Whitish ruber flesh color
- Suitable for cooking & Crisps
- Yield potential 55t/ha
Sahiwal White
- High yielding
- Early to late maturing 90-120
- Tolerant to biotic & abiotic stress
- Light yellow skin color
- Oval round tubers
- Suitable for cooking
- Yield potential 55t/ha
Sahiwal Red
- High yielding
- Late maturing 110-120 days
- Light Red skin color
- Light yellow flesh color
- Oblong tubers
- Suitable for cooking
- Yield potential 45t/ha
Initiatives
- Healthy seed potato production (BNS & pre-basic) through tissue culture
- Potato plantation/planting geometry under drip irrigation & fertigation in collaboration with Water Management Research Institute, Lahore to save water and fertilizers
- Development of high density potato varieties for processing industry
- Potato value addition studies (chips /Fries quality &shelf life etc)
- Common scab management studies
- Climate change (Early bulking, Frost tolerance, Drought tolerance & Heat tolerance) studies
- Construction of tissue culture Lab, green house & lathe house and renovation of office building under ADP project entitled “Production of pre-basic/basic virus free seed of the approved potato variety/varieties through tissue culture”
Name |
Designation |
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Contact No. |
Potato Research institute, Sahiwal |
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Rana Aftab Iqbal
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Principal Scientist
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040-4301303
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Muhammad Mudassar Hussain
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Scientific Officer
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040-4301303 | |
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Dr. Tariq Javaid
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Scientific Officer
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040-4301303
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Potato Research Station, Sahowali (Sialkot) |
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Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Sajid
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Senior Scientist
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potatobotanist2019@gmail.com | 0334-8050728 |
Potato Research Sub Station, Murree |
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Saqib Saleem
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Scientific Officer
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0321-5203326
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Facilities
Following are the facilities provided by the institute:
- Adaptability testing of exotic potato varieties/strains
- Sugar contents testing in potato
- Dry matter contents testing in potato
- Plant pathology lab. for identification of potato diseases
- Tissue culture lab. for in virto healthy disease free potato seed production
Services
Following are the services offered by the institute:
- Adaptability testing service to different seed potato importing companies
- Advisory services to the visitors and farmers
- Provision of Guidance to the potato stakeholder
- Dissemination of production technology through extension staff, farmer days, seminars, radio & TV talks and Publications
- Internship service to students from academics
- Provision of pre basic and basic seed potato on small scale
Capacity Building of Farmers
Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal has small cultivated area, due to which most of the seed potato production is utilized for research purposes and is available for potato growers on very small scale. However, seed potatoes of the approved potato varieties of this Institute are available with the Punjab Seed Corporation.
Technical Advisory
- Farmer field advisory services
- Farmer training program
- Awareness Seminars
- Internship programs
Allied Stations
Potato Research Station, Sialkot
Potato Research Station was initially established during 1958-59 by the Federal Government of Pakistan under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at Murree. Because the weather conditions of Murree were conducive to flowering and berries formation. So, to evolve new high yielding Potato varieties, hybridization work was started at Murree along with the introduction and acclimatization of Potato material from abroad. During 1964 this scheme was divided in to four parts and major share was handed over to Punjab Province. Beside this, the headquarter of the Potato Botanist was shifted at Sialkot. Because at that time 25% of total area under potato crop was cultivated in District Sialkot. After that during 1969 to strengthen the Research Work on potato crop a new scheme entitled, "Accelerated potato improvement and production project" was got approved by the Government. During 2012 the Potato Research Station was shifted at Sahowali, Sialkot and 9.88 area land was allotted for research purpose under the control of Potato Botanist. One Sub- Stations at Murree is also carrying research work on different aspects of Potato crop.
Contact Us
Potato Res Sub-Station, Murree
Potato Breeding Research Sub-Station, Murree was established before partition and it is situated at Clifden Road, 10 minutes of walking distance from bus stand. Earlier it was a vegetable research station but later on it was totally dedicated to potato research. Basically it is a potato breeding station and environment and weather here is is perfect for potato flowering, hybridization and harvesting berries. The main objective of this sub-station is to produce basic seed/true potato seed by using hybridization method to incorporate desirable traits in potato varieties/lines according to annual research programmer and then growing nursery for the production of mini tubers by using the basic potato seed and selection of plants with favorable characters. In future we are planning to grow mini-tubers and raise nursery in green house and glass houses and also we are planning to grow some other vegetables after harvesting potato crop.