NEW POTATO VARIETIES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29233, 17 June 1960, Page 14

NEW POTATO VARIETIES

Hybrids Bred By D.S.I.R.

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 16.

Two new potato varieties have been released by the Crop Research Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. As the new varieties are the first two hybrids released under the division’s potato breeding project they have been named Tahi and Rua—Maori for “one” and “two.” Both are late maincrop potatoes which have given heavy yields in many parts of the country. They are blight resistant, strong growing, wind resistant, and are less affected by dry weather than standard varieties.

Tahi is the more vigorous and heavy yielding and should be specially valuable on the lighter soil types or in dry seasons. Rua is not such a good cropper under drier conditions, but it can yield a heavy crop of well-shaped tubers on a medium to good soil. Probably the greatest benefit of the new varieties is that because of blight and drought resistance, yields , have been tar more consistent than those from other commercial varieties.

Only a limited amount of seed is available this year and is being distributed to seed growers by the Department of Agriculture. The produce of the areas sown will be used for further seed production in 1961-62, after which sufficient seed should be available for the needs of the farming community.