India: Farmers may soon get late blight-resistant seed potatoes

The Horticulture Research Centre at Somanahalli Kaval near Hassan in the Indian state of Karnataka has been doing research on providing quality potato seeds that can withstand late blight disease, for the benefit of farmers. The centre is now doing field experiments on a seed variety called D-125, cultured by the Central Potato Research Institute, based at Shimla. Vishnuvardhan, head of the research centre, told The Hindu that the seed variety, if found successful in the ongoing experiments, would be a boon for potato-growers. Full story