Whatever happened to Carolus?

[lieven]

Two years ago Agrico presented Carolus, a very resistant tater (using regular techniques, I guess). Read www.potatopro.com/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?ID=3345 (translate a bit, will you?) and you'll start wondering what has happened since Carolus was presented to the world.
Maybe it wasn't Roundup-Ready...

[Tom Wagner]

As usual with variety development...it takes forever to get potatoes out to individuals. Agrico does have Carolus listed as seed potatoes available...not even Athlete. Since I am in the USA...we wont have this one for quite a while and even then, it will be off limits to folks like me.
Carolus was bred 10 years ago...what is taking so long? Good thing I have my own resources. Even Bionica helped me not at all. It was too early for the blight in 2010 and the tubers saved for the 2011 crop ...virused up so bad as to be a complete failure.


I have some great TPS of grandchildren of Sarpo Mira with late blight res. from two backgrounds. I won't send that out to anyone but myself.


Meanwhile...a translation of Lieven's link.

On the Breeding Square of organic trade fair BioVak Gerda Verburg, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), the youngest biological race of potato cooperative Agrico baptized Carolus. The name of the breed was chosen in a contest: visitors to the website www.pieperpad.nl submit a fitting name. The winners of the contest were as Pieperpad namesake present and received from the hands of the minister Pieperpad a fully catered weekend. Verburg was also briefed about Bio-state momentum, a force grouping of partners in the organic chain.

The economic downturn seems to have little influence on organic: the sales of organic foods in supermarkets in the first half of 2009 by 10 percent, compared with sales growth of 2.9 percent of turnover for supermarkets in general. Of the total sales of organic fresh produce in the Netherlands take potatoes account for one quarter. 60 connected with organic growers and an area of ​​over 500 hectares Agrico's largest supplier of organically grown seed and ware potatoes. These potatoes are branded Bioselect grown and marketed throughout Europe. As table potato chips, potato chips or other kinds of products like our organic potatoes their way to consumers through supermarkets, health food shops and specialty vegetables.

The Carolus is a floury potato geelschillige with beautiful red eyes. Because of its good resistance to blight in the foliage, the Carolus ideal for organic cultivation of both chips, and table potatoes. There were no fewer than three entrants with the name of Carolus came up.

The name refers to the Flemish Carolus scholar, physician and botanist Carolus Clusius, in the 16th century a major role in the spread of the potato in Europe.

[jayb]

Bringing up an older post;
Carolus is now available from several suppliers in the UK, I've grown it for two seasons and it does indeed have a very good tolerance to the Late Blight strains we are getting here. Production is fair of mid size attractive tubers. They store well and cook well, boiled, mashed, baked etc and have good flavour. One downside, no selfed berries as yet, although I've used it as a pollen parent with Sarpo Mira and a line from Tollocan Fiesta.

[Tom Wagner]

I will look tomorrow if I have Carolus in my European potato collection. I have about 40 and I did not spend time with them since the blooming candidates were not among the Europe lines so much

[lieven]

Our Carolus set two berries this year, so let me know if you want some OP-tps.