International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 1-7 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 1 Research Report Open Access Evaluation and Introduction Performance of Five Fresh-Eating Potato Varieties in Changxing County Chunmei Zhu1,2, Yunlong Mao1,2 1 Changxing Heping Hanxiangmi Family Farm, Huzhou, 313103, Zhejiang, China 2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: 361822731@qq.com International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0001 Received: 02 Nov., 2024 Accepted: 30 Dec., 2024 Published: 15 Jan., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Zhu and Mao, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhu C.M., and Mao Y.L., 2025, Evaluation and introduction performance of five fresh-eating potato varieties in Changxing County, International Journal of Horticulture, 15(1): 1-7 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0001) Abstract This study evaluated the field growth performance, yield, tuber characteristics, and culinary quality of five fresh-eating potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) varieties—‘Zheshu956’, ‘Mira’, ‘Zheshu974’, ‘Zheshu927’, and ‘Zheshu926’—in Changxing County. The results showed that ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ exhibited vigorous growth, rapid emergence, strong disease resistance, and high yields exceeding 30 000 kg/hm², with excellent culinary qualities, making them suitable for fresh consumption and large-scale promotion. ‘Zheshu974’ had smaller but uniform tubers, slightly lower yield, but good market potential. ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ had weaker growth, lower yields, and poor adaptability, making them unsuitable for promotion. Based on a comprehensive analysis, ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ are the preferred varieties for Changxing County, while ‘Zheshu974’ may be promoted as a specialty variety. In contrast, ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ have limited commercial value. This study provides a scientific basis for potato variety selection in Changxing County and offers a reference for the cultivation and promotion of fresh-eating potatoes in Zhejiang Province. Keywords Potato (Solanum tuberosumL.); Changxing county; Variety introduction; Variety evaluation; Yield; Promotion 1 Introduction Potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following wheat, rice, and maize. With an annual global production exceeding 374 million tons, it plays a crucial role in global agricultural production and human nutrition (Beals, 2019; Gupta and Gupta, 2019). As China continues to adjust its agricultural structure and promote diversified cropping systems, potato cultivation has expanded in southern regions. However, due to traditional farming practices, market demand, and varietal adaptability, large-scale potato production has not yet been fully established in many areas. To optimize cultivation models and improve both yield and quality, it is essential to select suitable potato varieties based on local natural conditions and evaluate their field performance through trials to guide regional promotion (Shen et al., 2018). Changxing County is located in northern Zhejiang Province and has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons and synchronized rainfall and heat. The annual average temperature is 15.6 °C, with an annual precipitation of 1 300 mm and a frost-free period of up to 240 days (Wang et al., 2022). These climatic conditions provide favorable conditions for spring potato cultivation, particularly with moderate temperatures and sufficient moisture that promote tuber growth and development (Pandey and Kumar, 2017). Despite these advantages, local potato production faces several challenges. It is predominantly small-scale and scattered, lacking systematic varietal selection and cultivation techniques, resulting in low productivity and limited economic benefits. The coexistence of multiple varieties with varying adaptability has led to inconsistent yields and reduced market competitiveness. In this context, introducing high-quality fresh-eating potato varieties and evaluating their local performance is critical for improving production efficiency and promoting large-scale cultivation. In recent years, China has prioritized food security strategies and implemented farmland restoration policies to address the ‘non-grainization’ phenomenon, ensuring that cultivated land is used for food production (Zhou and Song, 2016). Changxing County actively responds to policies and will launch a "non-grainization" campaign for
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