POTATO RESEARCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23110, 9 February 1937, Page 6

POTATO RESEARCH

EXPEDITION TO SOUTH AMERICA DOMINION TO ASSIST FINANCIALLY (Per United Press Association) GHEYMOUTH, Feb. 8. It has been decided that New Zealand will participate in the cost of an expedition to the Lake Titaco region in South America to collect native species of potatoes to be used for potato-breeding work in various parts of the Empire. This was announced by the Minister in Charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial' Research (Mr D. G. Sullivan) in Greymouth to-day. The cost to New Zealand will be £2OO. The Minister, when making the announcement, emphasised that the decision indicated the excellent example of Empire co-operation in valuable research. “It is now recognised by plant breeders that little progress can be made by using varieties of potatoes which have long been established,” said the Minister, “ and that it ife essential to introduce new species and varieties that possess specially desirable characteristics, particularly in their resistance to disease. Such material will be used for crossing with existing material to produce improved strains. Damage to potato crops by virus disease is a serious problem in New Zealand, as in other countries, and the value of the proposed expedition is unquestionable.” . , ~ The expedition has received the approval of the Council of Imperial Agricultural Bureaux, and the estimated total cost will be £I6OO.