The northwest program incorporates federal, university, and industry research elements to (1) develop superior varieties with resistance to established and emerging pests and diseases, (2) identify…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Washington State University $2.478 million on September 15, 2025, under the Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants program (CFDA 10.200) to develop superior potato varieties with resistance to established and emerging pests and diseases, identify and incorporate traits for improved water and nutrient use efficiency, develop desirable yield and quality traits, and develop high-throughput methods for rapid trait selection. Work is performed at Pullman, Washington, with a period of performance through September 29, 2027.

The award funds the Northwest Potato Variety Development Team, which collects breeding and molecular genetics data to establish trait inheritance, characterize genotypes, and develop markers for marker-assisted selection; field trial data from selection and agronomic management trials across regional and advanced stages; storage trial data characterizing postharvest phenotypes; culinary evaluation and consumer preference data; and physiological and biochemical data relating to nutritional attributes, stress resistance, dormancy, and cold sweetening. The team also tracks adoption, commercialization, and impact of newly released varieties.

The Agricultural Research Service breeding program at Aberdeen conducts most basic breeding, incorporates improved germplasm, completes pre-breeding research, and provides true potato seed. ARS researchers at Prosser conduct germplasm enhancement to increase access to pest-resistant germplasm. Washington State University, the University of Idaho, and Oregon State University provide germplasm enhancement, seedling production and evaluation, seed increase, in-field and postharvest management research, advanced evaluations, and commercialization guidance. Industry partners provide large-scale evaluations, seed production beyond initial stages, and collaboration in commercialization.

The northwest program incorporates federal, university, and industry research elements to (1) develop superior varieties with resistance to established and emerging pests and diseases, (2) identify and incorporate traits into varieties for improved water and nutrient use efficiency, (3) identify and develop desirable yield, storability, consumer, and other value-added quality traits, and (4) develop high throughput methods for rapidly selecting traits for superior-performing varieties targeted for specific markets. Equal effort is allocated to these four potato research program areas. The ARS breeding program at aberdeen does most of the basic breeding, incorporates improved germplasm from other ARS and state programs, completes pre-breeding research, and provides most of the true potato seed for the variety development effort. ARS researchers at prosser complete germplasm enhancement activities that increase access of the aberdeen program for pest resistant germplasm. The state universities add to the overall effort by providing germplasm enhancement, production of additional seedlings, completion of seedling selection and evaluation, initial seed increase, complete in-field and postharvest management research, advanced field and laboratory evaluations, and all aspects of commercialization through detailed variety recommendations. The industry provides large-scale evaluations, seed production beyond the initial stages, collaboration in commercialization, and additional financial support. The combined efforts of these federal, state and industry organizations has been very successful, with each institution completing the duties for which IT is best equipped.