DEVELOPMENT OF POTATO VARIETIES FOR THE MID-ATLANTIC AND SOUTHEASTERN US

The overall goal of the NC potato breeding project is to develop conventional and specialty-type chip-stock and table-stock potato cultivars that are better adapted to the spring and summer growing conditions of the Mid-Atlantic (M-A) and Southeastern US. Selected clones will have improved yield and culinary and/or processing qualities, and better tolerance to the high temperatures and diseases commonly experienced by potatoes in these regions. The specific objectives of this five-year project are to: 1) continue collaborative breeding projects with the USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), the University of Maine, Cornell University, Michigan State University and other potato breeding programs to select and develop new potato varieties with broad adaptation to the eastern US; 2) continue screening efforts focused on evaluating advanced clones from the Cornell, USDA/ARS/BARC, University Of Maine, Michigan State University, and other potato breeding programs for utility in NC and the SE US; and 3) conduct germplasm enhancement and molecular marker studies focused on developing high yielding, high specific gravity potatoes free of IHN. Successful completion of these project goals will: 1) assist breeders in designing regional breeding and selection strategies to more efficiently develop cultivars for wide geographic areas; 2) broaden the germplasm pool of high specific gravity clones available for commercial production in the US; 3) foster increased communication and interaction among potato scientists located in the mid-Atlantic, SE and the NE-1731 Regional Potato Variety Development and Evaluation project; and 4) contribute to the development of a more economically sustainable potato production system in the mid-Atlantic and SE.