News Traits and Genetics
International research team breeds frost-resistant potato

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) partnered with researchers in Peru and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to breed a frost-resistant potato variety. Dubbed Wiñay, the potato is a cross between two wild potatoes native to South America, which showed the greatest ability to tolerate frost of the available species at the U.S. Potato Genebank.

Following rigorous testing in the U.S., Wiñay was field-tested for multiple seasons at multiple locations in Peru. According to ARS, the new cultivar showed good yields, frost hardiness, and farmer and consumer acceptance. |READ MORE