History
Former plant breeder Dr. Tom Starling working in the field
1888-1890:
Variety tests were initiated in wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, onions, and cabbages.
Fertilizer experiments were initiated in wheat.
Ftab
1891-1904:
Fertilizer tests in corn were initiated in 1892.
Sorghum, corn, cowpeas, and soybeans were evaluated for forage use in 1901.
1904-1907:
Variety tests with winter wheat, fall-sown oats, spring oats, cowpeas, soybeans, millet, sorghum, potatoes, sugar beets, mangels, turnips, and other crops.
Dates of seeding tests with wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn, and crimson clover.
Selection experiments in winter wheat, oats, and barley were initiated.
1904-1907:
In 1906, Prof. H.L. Price initiated a series of experiments in crossbreeding and hybridization of tomatoes to verify Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance and to develop improved strains of tomatoes.
1908-1915:
Selection of improved strains of varieties of corn was initiated and selection of improved strains of small grain varieties was continued.
1921-1945:
Plant breeding programs which incorporated hybridization in the development of novel cultivars were initiated in the early to mid 1940s.
R.P. Cocke made selections among the alfalfa variety Kansas Common from which ‘Williamsburg’ alfalfa was released in 1947.
In the late 1920s, J.H. Beattie (USDA) and E.T. Batten developed the peanut varieties Holland Virginia Runner and Holland Jumbo.
Prior to 1946, the wheat varieties Vahart (Redhart selection) and V.P.I. 131 (Fulcaster selection) were developed.
In 1942, the flue-cured tobacco variety Yellow Special was developed.
Dr. S.A. Wingard initiated research on the genetic behavior of disease resistance in plants in 1918, and developed 10 varieties of snap beans, emphasizing rust resistance.
Dr. Boyd Harshbarger initiated the use of randomization, replication, and small plots in research to estimate variety effects. Prior to this, a difference of 20 bushels was required in corn to certify significance.
1945-1966:
Dr. C.F. Genter developed 8 corn hybrids between 1951-1959 and 14 yellow dent inbreds were released between 1961-1966.
From 1952 to 1966, three peanut varieties were released.
From 1948 to 1966, James barley and four oat varieties were released.
Dr. T.J. Smith cooperatively released five soybean varieties between 1946-1966.
Nineteen tobacco varieties were released between 1946-1966.
Barley, Corn, Oat, Peanut, Soybean and Wheat Cultivars and Lines Released prior to 2000
Year Species Cultivar Type of Release
1961 Barley James Public
1968 Barley Hanover Public
1970 Barley Rapidan Public
1976 Barley Henry Public
1976 Barley Monroe Public
1976 Barley Surry Public
1977 Barley Maury Public
1982 Barley Sussex (VA 75-42-55) Public
1985 Barley Wysor (VA 83-42-63) Public
1989 Barley Penncomp 101, germplasm Public, joint with USDA-ARS and PA
1991 Barley Nomini (VA 84-44-342) Public
1993 Barley Pamunkey (VA89-41-2) Public
1993 Barley Starling (VA85-44-226) Public
1994 Barley Calt.ao (VA9O-41-14) Public
1982 Corn VA95 yellow inbred line Public
1982 Corn VA96 yellow inbred line Public
1982 Corn VA97 yellow inbred line Public
1982 Corn VA98 yellow inbred line Public
1982 Corn VA99 yellow inbred line Public
1982 Corn VS1 breeding population Public
1983 Corn VAIOO yellow inbred line Public
1983 Corn VS1-1473 breeding population Public
1983 Corn VS1-1493 breeding population Public
1983 Corn VS1-1768 breeding population Public
1983 Corn VSASD(E)C4 breeding population Public
1985 Corn VA 101 inbred Public
1985 Corn VA 102 inbred Public
1985 Corn VA 103 inbred Public
1985 Corn VA 104 inbred Public
1985 Corn VS2W breeding population Public
1948 Oat Arlington Public, joint with USDA
1948 Oat Atlantic Public
1962 Oat Fairfax Public, joint with NC
1962 Oat Roanoke Public, joint with USDA
1971 Oat Windsor Public
1952 Peanut Virginia Bunch 46-2 Public
1956 Peanut Virginia 56R Public
1961 Peanut Virginia 61R Public
1971 Peanut Virginia 72R Public
1979 Peanut VGP 1 germplasm Public
1981 Peanut Virginia 81 Bunch Public
1986 Peanut Hampton breeding line (VA 780839) Public
1986 Peanut VGP 2 germplasm (VA732813) Public
1986 Peanut VGP 3 germptasm (VA732815) Public
1986 Peanut VGP 4 germplasm (VA732816) Public
1986 Peanut VGP 5 germplasm (VA732817) Public
1986 Peanut VGP 6 germplasm (VA732818) Public
1986 Peanut VGP7germplasrn (VA751014) Public
1989 Peanut NC-V11 (NC Ac 18411) Public, joint with NC ARS, USDA-ARS
1992 Peanut VA-C 92R Public
1993 Peanut VA 93B (VA910212) Public
1993 Peanut VGP 9 germplasm Public, joint with USDA-ARS
1994 Peanut VGS1 genetic. stock Public (Joint with USDA-ARS)
1994 Peanut VGS2 genetic stock Public (Joint with USDA-ARS)
1997 Peanut VGP 10 germplasm (VA8129) Public (Joint with USDA-ARS)
1997 Peanut VGP 11 germpl.asm (VA861101) Public (Joint with USDA-ARS)
1998 Peanut VA98R (VA910954) Public release joint with USDA-ARS
1967 Soybean York Public
1972 Soybean Essex Public
1974 Soybean Shore Public
1978 Soybean Bay Public
1978 Soybean Ware Public, joint with DE
1985 Soybean Toano (V75-183) Public
1986 Soybean Morgan (Md79-5043) Public, joint with MD, NJ and VA
1986 Soybean Stafford (V74-315-142) Public
1986 Soybean Vance (V81-1325) Public
1987 Soybean Hutcheson (V78-184) Public
1989 Soybean Camp (V81-1325-62) Public
1991 Soybean Manokin (Md83-5008) Public, joint with MD, AR, MO & OK
1993 Soybean Chesapeake (V81-141) Public
1993 Soybean Cultivar named by licensee Exclusive
1993 Soybean Holladay (N85-578) Public, joint with USDA-ARS, NCARS, AR
1993 Soybean Missouri germplasm (7 lines) Public, joint with MO and IL
1993 Soybean V88-968 germplasm Public
1993 Soybean V88-970 germplasm Public
1993 Soybean V88-987 germplasm Public
1993 Soybean V89-2372 germplasm Public
1994 Soybean Clifford (N87-325) Public (Joint with MD and NC)
1995 Soybean Cultivar named by licensee Exclusive
1996 Soybean Accomac (V88-i234) Exclusive
1996 Soybean V71-37O BrY Exclusive
1996 Soybean V94-5152 germplasm Public
1997 Soybean V93-0386 Exclusive
1997 Soybean V93-1079 Exclusive
1998 Soybean V88-494 Exclusive
2000 Soybean V91-3036 Exclusive
2001 Soybean V239 germplasm Public
2001 Soybean V94-3922 germplasm Public
2001 Soybean V95-0391 germplasm Public
2001 Soybean V97-9001 germplasm Public
1945 Wheat Vahart Public
1975 Wheat Potomac (VA66-54-6) Public, joint with MD
1980 Wheat Tyler (VA 75-24-95) Public
1980 Wheat Wheeler (VA 76-54-67) Public
1981 Wheat Massey (VA 76-52-12) Public
1983 Wheat Saluda.(VA .79-54-254) Public
1988 Wheat VA82-52-52 Exclusive
1990 Wheat Madison (VA 85-52-24) Public
1990 Wheat VA85-52-29 Exclusive
1990 Wheat VA85-54-258 Exclusive
1990 Wheat Wakefield (VA 85-52-34) Public
1991 Wheat VA85-54-290 Exclusive
1992 Wheat VA85-52-3 Exclusive
1993 Wheat Jackson (VA88-54-479) Public
1994 Wheat VA87-54-370 Exclusive
1995 Wheat VA91-51-14 Exclusive
1995 Wheat VA91-51-1O Withdrawn
1995 Wheat VA91-51-20 Exclusive
1995 Wheat VA9O-51-7 Exclusive
1997 Wheat VA 93-51-42 Exclusive
1997 Wheat VA 93-52-9 Exclusive
1998 Wheat Roane (VA93-54-429) Public
1998 Wheat VA92-51-12 Exclusive
1998 Wheat VA93-54-258 Exclusive
1998 Wheat VA94-52-60 Exclusive
1998 Wheat VA94-52-69 Exclusive
1999 Wheat VA94-54-479 Exclusive
1999 Wheat VA95-52-60 Exclusive
1999 Wheat VA96W-351 Exclusive
2000 Wheat Sisson (VA96W-250) Public
2000 Wheat VA96-54-326 Exclusive
2000 Wheat VA96W-158 Exclusive
2000 Wheat VA96W-247 Exclusive
2000 Wheat VA96W-270 Exclusive
2001 Wheat VA96-54-372 Exclusive
2001 Wheat VA96W-391 Exclusive
2001 Wheat VA96W-403WS Exclusive
2001 Wheat VA96W-56 Exclusive
2001 Wheat VA97W-206 Exclusive