Introduction

Kufri Sangam is a medium-maturing, high-yielding potato variety developed for dual purposes – table use and processing. It was developed by the ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute and is suitable for cultivation in the northern and central plains of India. This variety originated from a cross between Kufri Himsona and Kufri Pukhraj.

Key Characteristics

• Medium-tall plants with compact and vigorous growth
• White-cream, ovoid tubers with shallow eyes and cream flesh
• High marketable and processing grade tuber yield
• Excellent keeping quality and long dormancy period
• Moderate resistance to late blight

Yield Performance

Kufri Sangam has consistently outperformed control varieties in various trials:

• In northern plains, it yielded 39 t/ha total tuber yield and 32 t/ha processing grade yield, which is 19% and 17% higher than the best control Kufri Chipsona-3, respectively.
• In central plains, it produced 34 t/ha total tuber yield and 27 t/ha processing grade yield, showing 12% and 15% superiority over Kufri Frysona, respectively.
• Overall, across locations, Kufri Sangam (37 t/ha total and 30 t/ha processing grade yield) showed 16% and 18% higher yields than Kufri Chipsona-3.

Quality Attributes

Kufri Sangam possesses desirable quality traits for both table and processing purposes:

• Tuber dry matter content: 18-22%
• French fry colour score: 2.8-3.3 (on a 1-10 scale, where lower is better)
• Reducing sugars: 98-138 mg/100g fresh tuber weight
• Mealy texture and very good taste

Storage Behavior

Kufri Sangam exhibits excellent keeping quality under ambient storage conditions:

• Dormancy period: >10 weeks
• Physiological weight loss after 75 days: 7.8%
• Total weight loss after 75 days: 11.2%

These figures are superior to popular varieties like Kufri Bahar and Kufri Chipsona-3.

Disease Resistance

Kufri Sangam shows moderate resistance to late blight:

• Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC): 290 (compared to 750 for Kufri Bahar)
• Lesion area in detached leaf method: 2.95 cm² (compared to 7.2 cm² for Kufri Bahar)

Agronomic Management

Optimal cultivation practices for Kufri Sangam include:

• Planting time: 15-25 October (northern plains), 5-15 November (central plains)
• Seed rate: 35-40 q/ha
• Seed size: 40-60 g
• Spacing: 20-25 cm between plants in 66 cm rows
• Fertilizer: 180 kg N, 80 kg P, and 100 kg K per hectare (for ware/processing crop)

Adaptability and Usage

Kufri Sangam is recommended for cultivation in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand (northern plains) and Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan (central plains). It is suitable for table use in northern plains and for processing into French fries in central plains. The variety’s attractive ovoid tubers, long dormancy, and better shelf life make it suitable for long-distance transportation.

Conclusion

Kufri Sangam represents a significant advancement in potato breeding, offering high yields, good quality, and versatility for both table and processing purposes. Its superior performance in multi-location trials, combined with its disease resistance and excellent storage characteristics, makes it a valuable addition to India’s potato varieties, potentially contributing to increased productivity and utilization in the potato sector.

Source

This information is based on the research article: “KUFRI SANGAM: A HIGH YIELDING DUAL PURPOSE POTATO VARIETY FOR TABLE AND PROCESSING” by VK Gupta et al., published in Potato Journal, Vol. 48 (1), January – June, 2021.