Since this breeding project was started, a notable change in the market- 

 ing of carrots has taken place. Carrots no longer go to market in bunches 

 with the tops tied together. Long slender roots, with all tops carefully 

 trimmed off. are neatly pre-packaged in polyethylene transparent bags of 

 convenient size for the consumer. Thus the emphasis on carrot breeding has 

 changed and further work with this root vegetable is discussed in the 

 following paragraphs. 



Bitter-free Carrots 



There have been complaints in recent years about a bitterness in carrots, 

 which develops in intensity during storage of the roots. Large numbers of 

 stored carrots have been examined and tasted and an occasional root has 

 been found that was free of this bitter flavor. It was hoped that these 

 good carrots might not develop any bitterness because of a favorable in- 

 heritance. Large numbers of carrots of the red-cored Chantenay variety 

 were taste-tested and also assayed by chemical means.*"" The selected car- 

 rots were planted in the greenhouse and brought into bloom within screened 

 cages. House flies, which carry the pollen from one plant to another, were 

 released in the cages. Thus carrot seed of selected plants was produced and 

 planted in the field in 1954. The crop grown was put in a storage where 



This is the beginning of a carrot-breeding project. Upper left is the Nantes. 

 At the right is a high-color Japanese carrot. At the lower left is the Fi hybrid. 



* Dr. Warren Averill, Department of Agricuhural and Biological Chemistry, has 

 cooperated most capably in the chemical analyses. 



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