The Potato Research Group
at Washington State University
Mission Statement
To identify new potato varieties and cultural and postharvest management practices that will provide profitable, sustainable production for the grower, improved competitiveness for the Washington potato industry, a healthy, inexpensive food supply for American consumers, and contribute to a healthy environment.
The WSU Potato Variety Development Program is aided in research, administrative detail, and funding by the USDA/ARS, Washington State Potato Commission, the Tri-State Potato Variety Development Program (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington), Washington State University, the Western Coordinating Committee 27 (WERA-27), and other members of the U.S. potato industry.
The Tri-State Potato Variety Research Project and Partners
As the Northwest Potato Variety Development Program, the Tri-State teams evaluate the newest clones coming from the Tri-State program (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho). The majority of the potato clones and cultivars evaluated in this project come from USDA/ARS funded breeding programs located at Aberdeen, ID and Prosser, WA. The Tri-State team is comprised of researchers from the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University, the USDA/ARS, and the potato industry and commissions of the three states.
The Regional Potato Variety Research Project and Partners
The Regional team evaluates advanced clones that have graduated from the Tri-State in addition to advanced clones from other programs. Additional clones and cultivars come from Oregon State University, Colorado State University, Texas A&M, North Dakota State University, University of Minnesota, USDA/ARS Beltsville, Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada, and other programs. Colorado State University, University of Texas, and University of California join the Tri-State team to evaluate selections on a regional basis.
The concerted effort of those listed above has brought change to the Washington potato industry. This is demonstrated by the change in acreage planted to Russet Burbank vs. new cultivars and numbered clones during recent years. Nine years ago 50% of the potato acreage in Washington was planted with Russet Burbank. As a result of variety testing efforts, less than 41% of the potato acreage in 2005 was planted with Russet Burbank and the remaining 59% planted with other cultivars and clones. At least 89% of those “other” cultivars and clones were developed by the Tri-State breeding program. U.S. economic value of the recently released Tri-State varieties is placed at approximately $135 million (farm gate) annually. A recent economic analysis of the program revealed that every dollar invested in the Tri-State program results in a $39 return to the industry.
Potatoes at WSU
With this web site, our goal is to provide relevant and up-to-date information that can be used by growers, processors, fresh-pack sheds, researchers, and other industry personnel.
Variety Trials: Each year we publish variety-trial results in “user-friendly” graphs, figures, and charts. This publication is available as a printed volume (the Potato Cultivar Yield and Postharvest Quality Evaluations yearbook) as well as an electronic publication (accessed using Adobe Acrobat). An economic analysis is conducted on all clones and cultivars for both the fresh and process markets, with the exception of the red and specialty clones. Cultivars are ranked according to their overall performance which takes into account economics, yields, tuber-size profiles, tuber quality and many postharvest attributes.
Commercial Seed Lot Evaluations: As a service to Washington potato growers, the Potato Research Group undertakes annual Commercial Seed Lot Evaluations in order to ensure a high-quality, disease-free industry. Results of annual professional evaluations of commercial potato-seed lots are presented on this site as well as at the annual WSU Potato Field Day each June.
Research: Current research publications from the principal investigators of the Potato Research Group are published online along with links to important publications from researchers contributing to all areas of potato production and processing.
Potato Varieties: Our Potato Varieties page currently supplies information on over 575 different varieties of potatoes.
Jobs, Grants, News: Potato Information & Exchange provides a useful listing of current job openings and grant opportunities for faculty, as well as for graduate and undergraduate students. Conferences, field days, and meetings are listed, with regular updates, on our Calendar page, while industry-relevant news briefs are regularly updated on our News page.
Addresses and Travel Directions
WSU Pullman
Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
P.O. Box 646414
Pullman, WA 99164-6414
WSU Othello Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extensionon Center
1471 W. Cox Rd.
Othello, WA 99344
For Information regarding The Annual Washington State University Potato Field Day click here
Dig it! The WSU spud crew commences to document another season of research.
Links: We have created an annotated collection of links to other web sites of interest to industry professionals and of use to the interested layperson as well:
- Cooperative Extension - a state-by-state guide to Extension web sites; Potato Crop Production,Soil, Diseases and Chemicals – everything to do with the commercial production of potatoes
- Potato Industry Organizations - Grower, research and commercial organizations (including local, state, federal, and national government agencies) are included in this list of links. Check here for sites with information about seed-certification programs.
- Potato Industry Publications – publications for researchers, growers and industry professionals
- Potato Industry Web Sites – links to commercial vendors of agricultural equipment and supplies
- Potato Varieties - Catalogs, Lists, and Databases - links to academic and commercial pages with information about and images of potato varieties and potato seeds
- Potato History, Geography and Other Fun Stuff - links to sites that contain education material or other stuff about potatoes that we thought was fun--like home-growing, cooking and eating potatoes! The emphasis here is on material for kids and students of all ages.
- Organic and Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Organizations - links to non-profit, government, and non-governmental organization, as well as commercial companies, that are in some way involved with organic or sustainable agriculture.
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