Foreign potato introductions

Summary

Thousands of varieties and seedlings of various species of potatoes have been introduced to this country during the past 35 years. Since 1930, two expeditions under the direction of the Division of Plant Exploration and Introduction have explored parts of Mexico and South America. Many smaller lots have been introduced from time to time. These included seed or tubers of the most promising sorts reported in the literature seed and tuber stock of varieties and species carrying genes for resistance to late blight, varieties resistant to scab and to leaf roll, and varieties reported to be high in dry-matter content. These have contributed much to the plant-breeding program. They have been introduced from a relatively large number of countries. Since 1943 the United States Department of Agriculture has sent potato stocks to 34 foreign countries.

A list of available genetic characters is given. The present official procedure in getting foreign introductions into this country is described.

Recommendations are made for the organization of an institute whose sole objectives would be the introduction of potato material, its maintenance, and certain studies relating to its possible usefulness.