Why Maris Piper?

Why Maris Piper? This is a two-part question: why was a potato variety called “Maris Piper”; and why has Maris Piper been so successful? In the years after World War 2, there was a green revolution in our country: it was not about climate change and green energy, but about improving agricultural production. An important part of this process was plant breeding, then carried out by traditional means, well before the arrival of GM techniques. The University of Cambridge had a Plant Breeding Institute (“PBI”), which in 1952 was taken over and funded by the Government. It relocated to Maris Lane, Trumpington in 1954. My father-in-law, Dr Harold Howard, became the Head of Potatoes and Brassicas in the PBI. I do not claim to know how plant breeding is done, but I know it requires considerable scientific expertise, patience, and long periods of time. Potatoes were the staple food for millions around the world, and their production could be affected by various diseases and infestations. A big problem was that of eelworm, which could devastate a potato crop, causing millions of pounds worth of damage. Dr. Howard sought to produce a variety resistant to eelworms and eventually, Maris Piper achieved that objective. It was successful in two ways, not only did it resist the infestation but it also killed off the eelworm in the soil, such that other varieties like King Edward could be grown there successfully in the following seasons. Maris Lane took its name from the Maris family, who had previously farmed the land allocated to the PBI. The name Maris was used by the PBI for its new varieties and it was followed by a word beginning with P for its potatoes. As the variety had some purple spots, it was to have been named Maris Polkadot. Dr Howard’s teenage son, William, disliked that name and came up with the idea of Maris Piper, which was adopted. I believe there was some irritation in the Scottish PBI, as they thought that the word “Piper” should have been reserved for a Scottish potato: there might have been a “Pentland Piper” at some time in the future, but the English potato kept the name and in 1966 Maris Piper was duly approved. It turned out that Maris Piper was not just resistant to eelworm, but was a potato that cooked very well in all ways and had a good yield. It could be described as a good all-rounder. It is the most successful potato in the UK since the War and is grown more than any other potato. It is one of the few potatoes which has become a brand. It is also grown in the USA under the name “Yukon Gold”.The fiftieth anniversary of Maris Piper was celebrated in 2016 by the creation of a website: https://marispiper.wordpress.com This website tells its story and describes the illustrious career of Dr Harold Howard OBE, who had many other achievements as a plant breeder.

Post Views : 139