Economic Properties of Traditional Potato Varieties Poli and Brinjak

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a triennial research on the economic properties of two commercial (Désirée and Colomba) and two traditional potato varieties (Poli and Brinjak) in northwestern Croatia. Research was conducted during 2020, 2021, and 2022 at the Experimental Field of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagreb in non-irrigated conditions. The significantly highest tuber yield (33.10 t ha-1) was achieved in 2020, when the most precipitation fell during the growing season (583.6 mm). In a triennial average, the Désirée (27.37 t/ ha-1) and Poli (26.17 t ha-1) varieties achieved the significantly highest tuber yield. The highest dry matter content was detected in the varieties Poli (23.37 %) and Brinjak (23.26 %), and the lowest one in the variety Colomba (17.39 %). In 2020, when the weather was more favorable for potatoes, whereas the fraction > 55 mm had the largest share of tubers, with the fraction amounting to 35–55 mm in unfavorable years of. Within the > 55 mm fraction, the Désirée variety had the largest share of tubers, while the Poli and Brinjak varieties had it within the 35–55 mm fraction. On average, the Poli variety had the largest share of tubers smaller than 35 mm, and the Colomba variety had the largest share of tubers larger than 55 mm. The highest number of tubers per plant was detected in the Poli variety, and the highest mass of tubers per plant in the Désirée variety, respectively. Although traditional potato varieties are in some respects inferior to the commercial ones, it is necessary to cure them from viruses and preserve them (on-farm) in order to maintain biodiversity and diversity in the gastronomic offer.