07/24/1997

Small Potatoes Sometimes Better Say AU Researchers at Cullman Field Day

CULLMAN, Ala. - Growing B-grade instead of A-grade red potatoes may sound like a bad deal for farmers, but in this case worse is better, according to Auburn University researcher Joe Kemble.

Speaking at a recent Fruit and Vegetable Field Day at the North Alabama Horticulture Substation here, Kemble explained that consumers favor smaller, or B-grade red potatoes, and subsequently they are willing to pay more for these lower grades. Even though growing the smaller potatoes require closer seed-piece spacing, and hence higher production cost, the higher prices for smaller potatoes more than covers the extra production cost, Kemble noted.

The Auburn scientist, who conducts research in the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, also showed the commercial growers and home gardeners in attendance some novelty potatoes, inlcuding one with yellow skin.

Though smaller is better isn't true for most crops, Auburn researcher Eric Simonne showed the group some miniature pumpkins, which are less restricted to sales around Halloween than larger pumpkins. Seeds from pumpkins have gained popularity in recent years, much like sunflower seeds, providing a small niche for growers in the state.

Simonne also told the attendees about two new sweet potato varieties, Carolina Rose and Carolina Ruby, which have some potential for growers in Alabama. He also noted that a new okra variety, Cajun Delight, was released and has performed well in test with a dozen other okra varieties.

AU researcher Bob Ebell showed the group a block of pear trees that includes 43 different varieties collected from all over the country. These pears consist of trees that have persisted for many years, some over 100 years, in home plantings. The researchers will determine whether these domestic varieties have any application for commercial production.

Growers throughout north Alabama were cursed in 1993 by a viral disease of tomatoes that severely damaged production. However, Auburn researcher Geoff Zehnder told the field day crowd that the curse may turn out to be a blessing in the long run. "The disease was transmitted by insects, occurred on plants, and was viral in nature, so it caused entomologists, horticulturists, plant pathologists, virologists, even economists to work together to solve the problem," Zehnder noted.

In subsequent years, Auburn has developed a national reputation for integrated pest management work in tomatoes, which is beginning to pay dividends for Alabama growers, he said. For example, entomologists developed a scouting program for insects that damage tomatoes. This was followed up by a disease scouting program, which combined can save growers big money in reduced pesticide applications, more timely applications, and benefit the environment as well, he concluded.

Auburn researcher Nancy Burelle told the audience about a biological seed treatment for tomatoes that holds great promise for reducing nematode damage. The seed treatment, Kodiac, has been used successfully in other crops and is in the first year of testing on tomatoes in Auburn field tests. Tomato seed are too small for regular seed application, so the material is incorporated into soil mixes used to grow tomato transplants, Burelle explained.

The North Alabama Horticulture Substation is an outlying research unit of the Main Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn. Research is conducted there on a wide range of fruit and vegetable crops.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

07/24/97