The mission of the Texas Potato Variety Development Program of Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University System is to identify and/or develop improved varieties, adapted to the diverse environmental conditions of Texas, that will result in increased profits for the industry and provide superior products for consumers.
Objectives:
To develop high yielding, early maturing russet varieties;
To develop superior yielding medium to late maturing russet varieties;
To develop early maturing red varieties with improved shipping quality;
To develop colored skin/flesh varieties with outstanding culinary qualities for the specialty market;
To develop white varieties possessing superior yield and chip qualities;
To develop improved strains of selected prominent existing varieties through subclonal selection; and
To develop improved varieties with enhanced health benefits for consumers.
Methodology :
| Original selections are made from single-hill clones resulting from crosses made in Texas. |  |
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Original selections are made from second through fourth size seedling tubers provided by the Colorado State University, North Dakota State University, Oregon State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and USDA/ARS (Aberdeen, ID; Beltsville, MD; Madison, WI; Prosser, WA) programs. |
Selections of improved strains are made from prominent existing varieties deficient in one or more desirable characteristics.
Extensive replicated trials [Southwestern Regional (Russet, Chipping, Red, Specialty), Western Regional (Russet, Chipping, Red, Specialty)] and several advanced selection and nursery trials are conducted throughout the length of Texas (McCook-Lower Rio Grande Valley, Springlake-Southern High Plains, and Dalhart-North West panhandle).
Numerous laboratory investigations are conducted to evaluate the physiological /genetic basis for characteristics of interest.
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Virus eradication and rapid multiplication of promissing selections using tissue culture is an integral aspect of the breeding program.