Simon: Release: APlus

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                         AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE                                      and                        FLORIDA, CALIFORNIA, AND IDAHO                       AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS                    RELEASE OF MARKET CARROT HYBRID A PLUS The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Florida, California, and Idaho Agricultural Experiment Stations announce the release of A PLUS tested under pedigree [(B6439xB6274)xB6274]xB8080.  A PLUS is a fresh market hybrid carrot adapted for production in both organic and mineral soils where Imperator 58, Gold Pak, and the hybrid Orlando Gold are grown. In taste panel evaluations for flavor in 1983, Florida-grown A PLUS was sweeter and milder than the predominant Florida cultivar Hi Color 9.  In comparison with eight leading cultivars and hybrids from California, it was rated sweetest and was the most highly preferred for flavor at both locations.  Average carotene levels in California-grown A PLUS roots were 150 ppm, a 76% increase in vitamin A potential over Imperator 58, the most widely grown variety in California. A PLUS was evaluated for appearance in trials at Zellwood, Florida, and El Centro, California, in 1982 and 1983.  Following are acceptability scores based on values of 1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=fair, 4=good, and 5=excellent.                                       19821              1983 Entry                               CA      FL         CA      FL A PLUS                              2.4     2.0        2.9     2.6 Orlando Gold                        2.9     3.2        3.3     3.0 Golden State                        2.6     2.1        3.4     3.2 Candy Pack                          2.7     2.9        2.3     2.4 Imperator 58                        2.3     2.8        2.0     2.6 8 commercial hybrids2               2.5     2.4        2.3     2.5 Range of 8 commercial entries    2.0-2.7  2.1-3.0    2.2-2.9  2.1-2.9 1 In 1982 entries were in 3 replications.  There were 36 judges in California and 23 in Florida.  There was one observation row per entry in 1983. 2 Commercial hybrid entries were Spartan Fancy, Chancellor, Pak Mor, Fanci Pak, Dominator, Saber, Six Pak, and Hi Pak. These values demonstrate that A PLUS is acceptable as a commercial variety and should be competitive with most of the available varieties purely on the basis of appearance.  Despite its failure to achieve high grades for appearance, A PLUS is being released now because of its exceptional eating quality and high vitamin A potential.

-2- The inbred components were    released in 1983 to permit seed increase in 1984. Stock seed and pilot production of the hybrid were accomplished by the Alf Christianson and Asgrow Seed Companies in 1983 under standard agreements with the Agricultural Research Service.  Seed of the female parent [(B6439xB6274)xB6274] and the pollen parent B8080 were produced under these agreements in order to supply interested seedsmen with enough stock seed to undertake immediate production.  Seedsmen who wish to produce A PLUS should request a production share of that seed.  Those wishing to test the female, [(B6439xB6274)xB6274], in experimental combination with other male parents, should request experimental samples for that purpose. Pilot production of A PLUS scheduled for harvest in 1983 will be pro-rated by the contracting producers at a reasonable wholesale price to competing seed producers on orders received before December 9, 1983.  In the event that any demand develops, this provision in the contract ensures competing seed producers a means of supplying their customers while initiating their own production. Seed of the three inbred components, the F1 (B6439xB6274), the BC1 seed parent, and trial samples of hybrid A PLUS can be secured by addressing requests to C. E. Peterson, USDA, ARS, Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706. ________________________________________           ______________________ Director                                           Date Florida Agricultural Experiment Station ________________________________________           ______________________ Director                                           Date California Agricultural Experiment Station ________________________________________           ______________________ Director                                           Date Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station ________________________________________           ______________________ Administrator                                      Date Agricultural Research Service

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