The Lorch Potato Institute is the largest research center in Russia dedicated to the development of new potato varieties. Today, the institute is developing by leaps and bounds, attracting young talented minds. A dynamically developing university is open to all ambitious, intellectual and active young people.
Acquaintance
The Lorch Potato Institute is a federal state budgetary research institution and one of the largest practical and methodological centers in Russia on potato growing issues. Today we learn the history of the institution, its path to national recognition. The information will also be useful for applicants who would like to study here.
History
The Lorch Institute dates back to 1919. This year, Korenevskaya potato breeding station is being set up near Moscow, which was to create new varieties of potatoes. The doctor of agricultural sciences and professor Alexander Lorh came up with the idea of creating the station. He was appointed the first supervisor of the Korenev station. The scientist made a huge contribution to the development of potato growing. From 1922 to 1927 two new varieties were bred, which were named Korenevsky and Lorch. Research conducted by A. Lorch and his colleagues in the field of potato plant biology later became the basis for creating methods for obtaining sustainable potato crops. The scientist was tireless in his desire to develop potato growing, because he wrote more than 150 popular scientific works, which to this day are useful and relevant to all who work with crops. His books have been reprinted many times, which is still happening.
Research Institute
In 1930, the station turned into a research institute, which after three years was renamed the All-Russian Research Institute of Potato. Only in 1997, the Institute was named after A. Lorch - the creator of the station, by decision of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Activities
The Potato Research Institute is involved in various research areas. Among the main ones, the following can be noted:
- Development of methods for the search and conservation of the genetic resources of wild and cultivated plants to study the biological diversity of the plant world.
- Solving the basic problems of the development of agricultural biotechnology to create plants that will be resistant to hostile environment and adverse factors.
- Study of the possibilities of managing breeding processes in order to create improved plant genotypes with highly productive characteristics.
- Theory and practice of developing technologies for cultivating economically significant crops.
Since 1962, the Institute of Potato them. Lorha deals with issues of breeding, cultivation technologies and seed production nationwide. The responsibilities of the educational institution include the compilation of scientific and technical programs, the implementation of control and methodological guidance, as well as the generalization of the results. In addition, the institute is engaged in conducting coordination meetings, seminars, joint research with foreign centers as part of national and international programs. An important milestone of the institute's activity is that it prepares highly qualified personnel for work in the field of agriculture.
Breeding Center
The Lorch Potato Institute boasts one of the richest selection funds for various varieties of potatoes, which includes more than 800 samples of cultivated and wild plants, hybrids, varieties from different geographical areas. The institute’s breeding center is regularly replenished by income from foreign colleagues, the International Potato Center (Peru), VNIIR im. Vavilova, VNIIF, etc. The result of the center’s activities is the creation of approximately 160 different varieties of potatoes, 104 of which can be found in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. The breeding center with horizontal resistance to late blight, nematode and scab (Fregat, Lyubava, Desnitsa, Malinovka, Vestnik, etc.) can be considered a major success of the breeding center. It was here that potato varieties resistant to the Y virus and severe forms of other viral diseases were created (Pogarsky, Acrosia, Red Rose, Bryansk delicacy).
Other achievements
Potato Institute Lorha created a bank of healthy varieties, which is maintained thanks to clean field conditions in the Arkhangelsk region and the northern regions of Russia. In addition, the researchers of the institute were able to develop a special scheme of seed production, which allows you to use the advantages of the northern environment in the most effective way, taking into account the application of the modern integrated approach. Modern methods for diagnosing potatoes in the production process have also been developed.
Graduate school
What else is the Lorch Institute famous for? The potato varieties that its scientists bred feed the whole country, but in addition to this, the educational institution trains real professionals in the field of potato farming in agriculture. Before entering graduate school, a person must pass an exam in a special discipline that matches the profile of study. In addition, knowledge of a foreign language is checked. Applicants must provide a certain package of documents, which is listed on the website of the institute. People who do not have scientific works or inventions must submit an original conclusion to a thematic essay or article. The Lorch Potato Institute conducts entrance exams in the form of an interview or an oral exam. Training is carried out on a state budget and on a contract basis. You can familiarize yourself with the questions of an oral exam or interview in person at the institute or on the website of a higher educational institution. For international students, the Lorch Institute offers hostel places. In total, three areas are open for admission to graduate school: general agriculture, selection in agriculture and agricultural chemistry.
Products
Institute named after Lorha offers not only training, but also its own products. Of course, the main product of the educational institution is a variety of potatoes. Diagnostics of potato products for various diseases is also carried out on order. You can place a preliminary order on the website of the educational institution or by sending an application by e-mail. After that, a university employee will contact you. In order to detect and diagnose potato diseases, the following types of diagnostics are used:
- Bacterial
- Viral
- Linked immunosorbent assay.
If there is such a need, then a team of specialists can go to the place for diagnostics: all this is discussed individually in each case.
Summing up the review article about the Institute. Lorha, I want to say that this is an excellent educational institution for young people who feel their calling in the national economy. The Institute will provide not only basic knowledge, but also allow you to delve into modern methods of conducting, research and diagnosis of various problems of agriculture. Modern technology will allow you to look at familiar issues from a completely new angle.