Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world's third-most important food crop and the fourth-most important food crop in India. Potatoes are nutritionally very rich, fat-free and gluten-free, are high in dietary fibre as well as being enriched with vitamin C, B6, phenols, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and protein content comparable to that of cereals. They are more energy-packed than any other popular vegetable and have the ability to combat hidden hunger, which is a major global health issue. The United Nations declared 2008 the International Year of the Potato (IYP) to increase awareness of the relationship that exists between poverty, food security, malnutrition, and the potential contribution of the potato to defeating hunger. Moreover, this magical crop can generate a higher yield compared to the other crops; hence, it is one of the most notable crops to eliminate hunger and poverty. Therefore, sustainable potato production is important for food security and social welfare in future climate change scenarios.

Due to its shallow root system, potatoes are sensitive to environmental conditions and climate change. It is projected that potato yield may decrease up to 32% by 2050 due to increasing temperatures and drought conditions. Thus, future potato breeding programmes should focus on enhancing abiotic and biotic stress tolerance through the utilization of the natural germplasm conserved in different gene banks along with climate-friendly agronomical practices. Moreover, potato breeding should benefit from the effectiveness and ease of molecular techniques such as marker-assisted selection, genome-wide association studies, functional genomics, and transgenics. The development of new potato varieties can also be achieved via genetic engineering and genome editing. Disease-free potato seed production requires the integration of tissue culture methods, followed by the production of mini-tubers under an aeroponic system. As a staple food for millions, the potato has an extraordinarily rich past and a bright future. The demand for potatoes will increase in the future, which will be the driving force behind potato research. Hence, the present book is formulated for professionals, researchers, and postgraduate students working with advanced production, breeding, and postharvest technologies on potato crop specially in Indian perspective.

Autorentext

Dr. Shashank Shekhar Solankey is presently working as an Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist (Vegetable Science) at Nalanda College of Horticulture, Noorsarai, Nalanda (Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur), Bihar, India. He obtained his master's degree in vegetable science from Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, U.P., India, 2006 and doctorate in horticulture from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P., India, 2010. From 2010 to 2012, Dr. Solankey served as a Senior Research Fellow and Research Associate at ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He joined Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, as an Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist (Vegetable Science) in 2012. He has been actively involved in teaching, research, extension and training activities as per the mandate of university. Thereafter, he was deputed at Dr. Kalam Agricultural College, Kishanganj, under the umbrella of BAU, Sabour, in 2015 and acted as Nodal Officer of the newly established Horticulture Research Centre, Kishanganj, Bihar, between 2021 and 2022. He has handled four research projects on vegetable crops as PI/Co-PI with the objective of biotic and abiotic stress management as well as quality improvement in solanaceous vegetables and okra at BAU, Sabour. He has contributed to the development of two brinjal varieties through SVRC during 2023 namely, 'Sabour Sadabahar' and 'Sabour Krishnakali' and one technology on 'Management of Sucking Pests in Okra'. In 2024, he collaboratively registered a patent for the 'Smart Horticultural Spreader Machine' with the Government of India. At present, he is handling two seed-money/ state plan research projects entitled "Improvement of Okra Genotypes for YVMV Tolerance" and "Collection, Evaluation and Assessment of the Feasibility of Promising Vegetables (Garden Pea & Cowpea) for Bihar," and he is serving as Co-P.I. in one CRA program on potato, as well as being involved in several other projects at NCOH, Noorsarai. Dr. Solankey has supervised five M.Sc. students and served as a member of advisory committee for eight M.Sc. and three Ph.D. students. He has served as content creator of two Postgraduate courses at National level under ICAR-NAHEP Call-3 "Production Technology for Cool Season Vegetable Crops (VSC-501: Unit-IV)" and "Production Technology for Warm Season Vegetable Crops (VSC-502: Unit-II)". He has published 65 research papers, 10 review papers, 2 souvenir papers, 9 edited books, 1 authored book, 59 book chapters, 5 technical bulletins and 50 popular articles. Dr. Solankey is a life member of the professional societies, including Indian Society of Vegetable Science, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi; Indian Academy of Horticultural Sciences (IAHS), Pusa, New Delhi, International Society for Noni Science, Perungudi, Chennai; Society for Scientific Development in Agriculture & Technology, Meerut; and Bihar Horticulture Society, BAU, Sabour, Bihar. He also serves as a reviewer for The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Scientia Horticulturae, Vegetos and International Journal of Plant & Soil Science. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Solankey was awarded with Best Teacher Award and Best Researcher Award by Bihar Agricultural University in 2016. He received Fellowship of the International Society for Noni Science (ISNS), Perungudi, Chennai in 2022. Besides these, he has been the recipient of 17 other reputed awards and recognitions.