What are AstroTubers™ - Potato Minitubers
CETS AstroTuber Vs Typical Minituber
of the same variety.
AstroTubers (potato minitubers) are tubers produced by one or two node stem cuttings derived from established tissue culture plantlets, Stem cuttings are made from the tissue culture plantlets after a growth period of 3 to 4 weeks in a phytotron. Repeated stem cuttings can be made from the established plantlets at approximately 3 week intervals. The tissue culture plantlets are replaced annually.
Prior to planting in a rooting matrix, the stem cuttings are treated to enhance root development. The stem cuttings are grown in a phytotron in which a specific environmental regime is programmed to provide the optimum environmental conditions during the different growth stages, from establishment, vegetative growth, tuberization, to harvest. The time from planting of the stem cutting to the harvest of the AstroTuber is 6 to 7 weeks.
AstroTuber Seed Potato Production Process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
stem cuttings.
Step 5
400+ cwt per acre.
The harvested AstroTubers are stored at the desired temperature to allow for overcoming dormancy. The AstroTubers can be stored for periods over a year. Sprouting of the AstroTubers prior to field planting can be readily induced by a defined environmental regime in a phytotron. Such a sprouting treatment provides AstroTubers for field planting that promptly emerge and develop a rapidly growing plant canopy.
Shawn Bula of Bula-Gieringer Farms is shown with a representative sample of one hill of FG-1 Tundra seed potato tubers. He said the Tundra seed averaged close to 425 cwt./acre.