Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222611

Title: Potato Production and Breeding in China

Author
item Jansky, Shelley
item LIPING, J - CHINESE ACADEMY AG SCI
item KAIYUN, X - INTL POTATO CENTER
item XIE, C - HUAZHONG AG UNIV
item Spooner, David

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/28/2008
Publication Date: 3/2/2009
Citation: Jansky, S.H., Liping, J., Kaiyun, X., Xie, C., Spooner, D.M. 2009. Potato Production and Breeding in China. American Journal of Potato Research. 52(1):57-65.

Interpretive Summary: China grows about one-third of all potatoes worldwide and has been the leading producer of potatoes for over a decade. Potato production continues to rise as both the land area devoted to potato production and yield per hectare increase. Most potato production occurs in the northern and southwest regions of the country. Processing industries in China include starch and, increasingly, fries and chips. Major production constraints include unadapted varieties, the lack of high quality seed potatoes and limited access to equipment for mechanized cultivation, planting, fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting. Additional weaknesses in storage and transportation technologies must be addressed, as they are the major constraints for the growth of the potato industry. The introduction and improvement of these technologies will ensure the sustainable development of the potato industry in China.

Technical Abstract: China is the world’s leading producer of potatoes, growing about one-third of all potatoes. Production continues to rise, due to increases in both land devoted to potato production and yield per hectare. Most potato production occurs in the northern and southwest regions of the country. Major production constraints include inadequate germplasm resources for cultivar development, the lack of high quality seed potatoes and limited access to equipment for mechanized cultivation, planting, fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting. The processing of coarse starch is the most important component of the potato processing industry in China, but other processing industries, such as chips and fries, are expanding. Additional weaknesses in storage and transportation technologies must be addressed, as they are the major constraints for the healthy development of the potato industry. The introduction and improvement of these technologies will ensure the sustainable development of the potato industry in China.