Release of open-pollinated market carrot Beta III

The Agricultural Research Service, USDA, with the California and Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations announces the release of a market carrot variety BETA III for producing roots with good eating quality and high total carotenes. It is derived from the breeding population 951-1 released February 23, 1983 at recurrent cycle 3 to supply diverse germplasm to breeders for developing inbred lines. Four additional cycles of recurrent selection for horticultural quality, flavor and carotene levels may provide U.S. needs where open-pollinated varieties are grown and it may have important nutritional value in developing areas with vitamin A deficiency.