Approximately 72,000 first-year seedlings were grown in 1997 with 820 being selected for subsequent planting, evaluation, and increase in future years. A portion of these seedlings were obtained from breeding programs located in Idaho, Texas, and Canada. Since 1975, there have been five potatoes cultivars developed by this project. Seed stock supplies are being rapidly increased by seed growers to meet commercial demand. The basic objective of the Colorado potato breeding program is to develop new potato cultivars with increased yield, improved quality, resistance to diseases and pests, and tolerance to environmental stresses.
Primary emphasis is placed on developing fresh and processing russets, chippers, and reds.
Increasing emphasis is being placed on developing late blight resistant germplasm and specialty cultivars. Fifty-five parental clones were intercrossed in 1998. Seeds from 375 combinations were obtained. Approximately 45,000 seedlings tubers were produced from 1997 crosses for initial field selection in 1999. Second thru fourth size tubers will be distributed to Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Alberta, Canada.