Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

WERA-27 Annual Meeting Inn of the Rio Grande Alamosa, Colorado Monday, February 11, 2008 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 1:30 PM by Chair Samuel Essah. Introductions Approval of Agenda The agenda was distributed. Motion was made by Dan Hane and seconded by Dave Holm to accept the agenda without additions. Motion was approved. Approval of Minutes from 2007 Meeting in Moses Lake, WA The 2007 Minutes were distributed. Motion was made by Dan Hane and seconded by Rich Novy to accept the 2007 Minutes as distributed. Motion was approved. Administrative Advisors Report Greg Bohach, Administrative Advisor, was unable to attend the meeting due to a conflict. He sent his regards and will email a report to the group. State Reports Oregon, Idaho and Washington presented their reports at the Tri-State meeting earlier in the day (see attached).

State Reports IDAHO  STATE REPORT J. Stark, R. Novy, J. Whitworth, M. Thornton, N. Olsen, P. Bain, T Brandt, and M. Chappell. In 2007, we evaluated the productivity and quality of potato clones in 33 trials at five locations across the southern part of the state. Particular emphasis was placed on selecting varieties with adaptation to local conditions, dual utility with use in both fresh and processing markets, production efficiency, and multiple disease resistances. During the past year two varieties were released, including A88338-1, and A84180-8 and another, A95109-1 is being prepared for release. A88338-1  Released in 2007, is a late maturing selection with medium to heavy russet skin. U.S. No. 1 yields of A88338-1 were 78%, 42%, 42%, and 17% higher than Russet Burbank in eastern, western and central Idaho and Oregon, and Washington, respectively. Specific gravity and processing quality are similar to Russet Burbank. It has much better resistance to Verticillium wilt, PLRV, common scab and soft rot than Russet Burbank, making it a good candidate for organic production. It also has good resistance to Blackspot bruise. A84180-8  Released in 2007, is a late maturing, medium-russet cultivar with good culinary quality and good potential for the fresh market. U.S. No. 1 yields for A84180-8 were 26, 11 and 10% higher than Russet Burbank in eastern Idaho, western and central Idaho and Washington, respectively. It has good resistance to internal and external defects and has high vitamin C content. A84180-8 is more resistant to common scab and Verticillium wilt than Russet Burbank, but has similar susceptibility to foliar and tuber early blight. It also is less susceptible to soft rot and PLRV than Russet Burbank. A95109-1  An early maturing selection with medium to high yield and long heavily russeted tubers. A95109-1 produces a very high proportion of U.S. No. 1 tubers, which are very smooth and attractive and it is resistant to most internal and external defects. It has excellent culinary quality and fresh pack potential and reasonably good processing quality. A95109-1 has moderate resistance to foliar early blight, common scab, and dry rot. It is considered susceptible to PVYo, but is symptomatic in its expression of infection. Progress has continued last year in identifying corky ringspot resistant germplasm that also has desirable yield, quality and tuber appearance characteristics. In addition, research was initiated this year in cooperation with a group of Tri-State cooperators coordinated by Chuck Brown to evaluate the resistance of some advanced selections to powdery scab and black dot. Cultural Management: Ten management studies were conducted in 2007 to help define cultural recommendations for new varieties, specifically with respect to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization, plant spacing, seed piece size requirements and herbicide tolerances. Phosphorus recommendations were found to be slightly higher for A93157-6LS than Russet Burbank and Ranger. The nitrogen requirement for A95109-1 was similar to Russet Burbank, while AOA95154-1 was 40-60 lb N/acre higher than Russet Burbank and NDA5507-3Y was about 40 lb N/acre lower. Research with 100-200 lb K/acre applied as KCL though the sprinkler system during late bulking was ineffective in managing specific gravity of Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet and A93157-6LS. Optimal plant spacing results from our 2007 studies were 8-9 inches for A95109-1 and NDA5507-3Y, 10-11 inches for A9045-7 and 11-13 inches for AOA95154-1. Storage Research: The following selections were produced at the UI Kimberly R&E Center in 2006; A9305-10, A95109-1, A9045-7, A91814-5, AOA95154-1 and Russet Burbank (RB). The cultivars were harvested and placed in storage on September 29, 2006. All six cultivars were maintained at three storage temperatures: 42, 45, and 48°F, ramped at a rate of 0.5°F/day, following a 14 day 55°F curing period, and sprout inhibited with CIPC versus non-inhibited. Dormancy break in all treatment combinations was monitored over a 9 month period as well as sugar concentrations and susceptibility to Fusarium dry rot. The dormancy length of A9305-10 was the same as RB at 45 and 48°F, and about 10 days longer than RB when stored at 42°F (Table 1). It continues to perform similarly to RB in susceptibility to dry rot. A9305-10 had the highest sucrose concentrations of the selections tested throughout most of the storage season. Glucose concentrations were below 0.05% at both 45 and 48°F (Fig. 1). Fry color was d USDA 1 when stored at both 45 and 48°F. A95109-1 has a shorter dormancy than RB (20-45 days, depending on temperature), and its dry rot susceptibility is similar to RB. Glucose was below 0.10% at 45o and 48oF, but rose above 0.20% at 42oF. Mean stem end fry color was USDA 3 and 4 at 42°F, USDA 2 at 45°F and USDA 1 or below at 48°F. A9045-7 has a relatively short dormancy, at approximately two months shorter than RB, and its susceptibility to dry rot was similar to RB. Percent glucose for A9045-7 exceeded 0.20% at 42°F storage, and was ~0.10% at both 45 and 48°F. Fry color in A9045-7 was a USDA 4 at 42°F and approximately a USDA 2 at both 45 and 48°F. Table 1. Approximate dormancy length at 3 storage temperatures for the storage season 2006-07. Dormancy Length in Days Cultivar 42 °F 45 °F 48 °F Russet Burbank 170 155 140 A9305-10 180 155 140 A95109-1 150 130 95 A9045-7 120 85 80 A91814-5 130 125 90 AOA95154-1 110 90 85 Dormancy length is defined as the number of days from harvest until 80% potatoes have at least one sprout ³ 5 mm in length. The dormancy of AOA95154-1 is relatively short, ranging from 110 days at 42°F to 85 days at 48°F. In this first year of testing, AOA95154-1 had high susceptibility to dry rot, with 40% decay and 83% incidence. Percent weight loss was also relatively high in this cultivar, ranging from 8.3% at 45°F to 13.6% at 48°F. Percent glucose was the second lowest in this selection (below ~0.05%) at the three temperatures throughout the whole storage period. Fry color was very light, a USDA 1 or lower, at all three temperatures all nine months. This selection performed similarly to A93157-6LS in storage. 2007 WA State Tri-State/Regional Report 2007 RESEARCH TRIALS: Trial Plant Date Vine Kill Date Harvest Date Days Grown Location Early Tri State April 4 July 23 August 6 110 Othello Late Tri State April 17 Sept 17 September 25 162 Othello Early Regional April 4 July 23 August 6 110 Othello Late Regional April 17 Sept 17 September 25 162 Othello Regional Red March 21 July 20 July 30 121 Granger, WA Regional Specialty March 21 July 20 July 30 121 Granger, WA GrowthCycle/Morph April 11 Sept 22 Every 10 days 165 Othello Fertility by Variety April 16 Sept 24 October 9 161 Othello N rate study 6LS April 5 Sept 24 October 8 156 Othello N rate Study Alturas April 5 Sept 24 October 8 156 Othello Early A95109 Fert. April 5 July 23 Aug 1 109 Othello Late A95109 Fert. April 5 Sept 4 Sept 20 152 Othello Early Ranger Spacing March 29 July 19 July 25 112 Oth, Herm, Patterson 2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1. The Washington State Variety Development Group successfully planted, grew, harvested, and analyzed thirteen research trials (six variety trials and seven cultural management trials). The variety trials compared 51 new clones and cultivars to seven standard reference cultivars for early- and late-harvest management. In addition, two cultivars were released: A84180-8, and A88338-1. Trademarked names of these and other cultivars are being reviewed. 2. The third and final year of a reduced in-season nitrogen study was conducted with two rates and 8 varieties. The study examines 8 new and existing varieties under 100% of RB recommended in-season nitrogen and 50% of RB recommended in-season nitrogen. We found that under the same fertilizer regime, most of these varieties petiole NO3-N concentration correlated closely with Russet Burbank (see figures within the results section). This means that as R. Burbanks petiole concentrations change in response to N consumption, the petioles of other varieties also change in a similar manner. However, the NO3-N concentration in the petioles of the 7 other varieties, was not always at the same level as R. Burbank. A95109-1, Defender, GemStar, and Ranger Petioles tended to have higher NO3-N concentrations than R. Burbank when grown under the same fertilizer regime. Petiole concentrations of A93157-6LS, Alturas, and Umatilla, closer to those of R. Burbank (see results section, Figures 9 & 10). Full results will be discussed at the 2008 WA Potato Conference and then later published in Potato Progress. 3. A95109-1 is scheduled to be released soon as an early and late fresh and direct-processing cultivar. This variety produces a higher carton yield than that of any R. Norkotah strain. One problem with this variety is that the tubers can get too large. We finished the second year of a Reduced In-season Nitrogen x In-Row Spacing Trial this year, and looked at two harvest dates: early and late. The longer this variety is grown during a season, the larger the tubers get and therefore, the in-row spacing and the N should be reduced below what is typical for R. Burbank. This variety has great potential due to its good flavor, uniform shape, high US# 1 pack out, and its ability to yield with reduced in-season nitrogen (see results section, Figures 11 & 12). Results will be released to the WA industry in the near future. 4. We finished our third and final year of the Early-Harvest Ranger Spacing Trial. We had studies at Othello, Hermiston and Paterson. Across all years and sites, 15 inch in-row spacing has been economically superior to other spacing. Tighter in-row spacing produced higher yields, but tuber size profile was not as profitable as if the tubers were planted at 15 inches. Growers may still profit at different in-row spacing, but for the early harvest (110 DAP), 15 inches was consistently the most profitable in-row spacing across all sites and years (see results section, Figures 13 & 14). Growers wishing to harvest earlier or later than 110 DAP should adjust their in-row spacing according to anticipated harvest date. More in-depth results will be published and released to the WA industry in the near future. 5. We finished our Variety Growth Cycle  Morphology study with Dr. Knowles. From the data, we are learning important information about many new and existing cultivars that will help us make cultural and post-harvest management recommendations to help the growers maximize profits. See Dr. Knowles 2007 progress report for the final report. 6. Chris Hiles, a masters student, joined the WSU Potato Variety Development team in 2007. His focus is on fertility management for existing cultivars. During 2007 we conducted two trials with six in-season N rates to produce in-season N recommendations for Alturas and A93157-6LS. The data will be reported on next year. Ed Driskill is no longer with the WSU program and the position will not be filled unless funding is restored. We are also short one ½ time office position due to funding cuts. Overall research efforts for 2008 will be reduced due to funding cuts. 2007 TEXAS PROGRESS REPORT " 76,270 first year seedlings, resulting from 581 different parental combination or families (crosses), were grown for selection on the Barrett Farm (40,594) near Springlake and on the CSS Farm (35,676) near Dalhart. " 304 original selections were made. " 35 clones were intercrossed to produce 50 families, with emphasis on colored flesh. " We received seedlings tubers from the Idaho (9,137), Oregon (15,784), Colorado (19,978), and North Dakota (24,810) breeding programs. Colorado also provided 1,271 mini tubers from advanced Texas selections for seed increase. " We grew 6,664 tuberlings in the greenhouse from true seed. " Evaluation trials were conducted at Springlake (Spring  March planting, July-August harvests), and Dalhart (Fall  April planting, August-October harvests) Some 728 advanced selections/new cultivars were tested in 19 separate trials. " Western Regional Trials were conducted at both Springlake (Russet and Red/Specialty) and Dalhart (Chip). " The Texas Program had four entries in the Western Regional Russet Trial (AOTX95265-2ARu, AOTX95265-3Ru, AOTX95265-4Ru, and TXA549-1Ru), and two in the Western Regional Red/ Specialty Trial (ATTX961014-1R/Y and ATTX98500-2P/Y). " The Texas program entered ten selections (ATTX98500-3P/Y, AOTX96265-2Ru, AOTX98137-1Ru, ATX97147-4Ru, ATX97232-1Ru, ATTX98453-6R, COTX94218-1R, COTX00104-7R, NDTX4784-7R, and TX1475-3W) in the Southwestern Regional Trials. " Field day was held on June 27 at Springlake and was well attended. " Continued expanded emphasis on evaluating processing /chipping selections as well as colored flesh selections. " Work continued on screening for and identifying important phytochemicals in potato and its wild relatives, including evaluating these compounds for anti-cancer properties in human prostate cancer cells and publication of results of this work. " Virtually all of the russet potatoes grown in Texas in 2006 were the improved Texas Russet Norkotah strains. In 2005, Texas recorded the highest Summer crop yields in the nation (465Cwt/A) among the 12 states producing a summer crop. " PVP has been approved for TX1523-1Ru/Y (Sierra Goldä) and is pending for Stampede Russet and Rio Rojo. " A major program emphasis in 2007 continued to involve virus testing, clean-up, and minituber multiplication of the significant backlog of selected clones. " A major new program addressing Zebra Chip was initiated. Colorado: State Report  2007 The major objectives of the Colorado Potato Breeding and Selection Program are: (1) to develop new potato cultivars (russets, reds, specialties, and chippers) with increased yield, improved quality, improved nutritional characteristics, resistance to diseases and pests, and tolerance to environmental stresses; (2) to collaborate with growers, shippers, processors, and research personnel to assess the production, adaptability, marketability, and other characteristics of advanced selections from the Colorado program; (3) to provide a basic seed source of selections to growers for seed increase and commercial testing; (4) to evaluate promising selections for possible export (interstate and international). The primary emphasis is placed on the development of russet cultivars. The balance of the breeding effort is devoted to developing red, specialty, and chipping cultivars. This broad approach is important because it recognizes the diverse markets accessed by potato growers throughout Colorado. The development of "low input" cultivars, primarily for reduced nitrogen and fungicide input has always been emphasized. In addition to the general criteria mentioned above specific breeding emphasis is being placed on identifying germplasm and developing cultivars that have: (1) early vine maturity and rapid tuber bulking; (2) improved nutritional quality and other "consumer" related characteristics; (3) immunity to PVY; (4) resistance to late blight (foliar and tuber); (5) resistance to storage rots [dry rot (Fusarium and early blight) and bacterial soft rot]; (6) resistance to powdery scab; and (7) and resistance to pink rot. Breeding and Selection Program. The Colorado Potato Breeding and Selection Program intercrossed ninety-three parental clones in 2007 in two separate crossing blocks. The emphasis of the first crossing block was russet, red, and specialty cultivar development. The second emphasized russet and red cultivar development, PVY immunity, and nematode resistance. Seed from 383 combinations was obtained. Approximately 46,227 seedling tubers representing 249 families were produced from 2003, 2005, and 2006 crosses, for initial field selection in 2008. These seedlings represent crosses segregating primarily for russet, reds, specialty types, and disease resistance/immunity (late blight, PLRV, and PVY). Second through fourth size seedling tubers will be distributed to Idaho (USDA-ARS), Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Alberta, Canada (Agriculture Canada). Colorado grew 80,101 first-year seedlings in 2007, with 643 selected for subsequent planting, evaluation, and increase in future years. A portion of these seedlings were obtained from the USDA-ARS, Agriculture Canada, North Dakota State University, and Texas A&M University. Another 893 clones were in 12-hill, preliminary, and intermediate stages of selection. At harvest, 229 were saved for further observation. Forty-three advanced selections were saved and will be increased in 2008. Another 262 selections and cultivars were maintained for germplasm development, breeding, other experimental purposes, or seed increases for other programs. Field trials conducted in 2008 included: Preliminary Trial, Intermediate Yield Trial, Advanced Yield Trial, Southwestern Regional Trial, Western Regional Russet/Processing Trial, Western Regional Red Trial, Western Regional Specialty Trial, San Luis Valley Chipping Study, and Western Regional Chipping Trial. All trials are grown under "low input" conditions, primarily for reduced nitrogen and fungicide. A total of 160 samples are in the process of being evaluated for two or more of the following postharvest characteristics: blackspot susceptibility, storage weight loss, dormancy, enzymatic browning, specific gravity, french fry color, french fry texture, and chip color. Advanced selections evaluated in the Southwest Regional Trials, Western Regional Trials, or by producers in 2007, included 8 russets (AC96052-1RU, C094035-15, C095172-3RU, C097087-2RU, C097138-3RU, C097138-7RU, C098067-7RU, and C098368-2RU), 4 reds (C098012-5R, C099076-6R, C099256-3R, and C099256-2R), 5 chippers (AC97097-14W, AC99213-8W, C096141-4W, C097043-14W, and C097065-7W), and 13 specialties (AC97521-1R/Y, AC99329-7PW/Y, AC99330-1P/Y, C097215-2P/P, C097222-1R/R, C097226-2R/R, C097227-2P/PW, C097232-1R/Y, C097232-2R/Y, C097233-3R/Y, C099045-1W/Y, C099338-3RU/Y, and VClO09-W/Y). Two cultivars were named in 2007 including Canela Russet (AC92009-4RU) and Rio Colorado (NDC5281-2R). Canela Russet is a fresh market selection with a medium-high total yield and excellent tuber type. It has a low level of external and internal grade defects. Tubers have a long dormancy minimizing the need for sprout inhibition in storage. Rio Colorado is an early maturing red developed for the B sized market. Rio Colorado has excellent tuber color and color retention in storage compared with many popular reds in the marketplace. Tubers have good storability with minimal external and internal grade defects. PYP is pending for Colorado Rose, Rio Grande Russet, Mountain Rose, and Purple Majesty. Canela Russet and Rio Colorado. Table 1 compares the Colorado certified seed acreage (G I-G6 and Experimental) for recent releases undergoing grower evaluation/commercialization in 2003-2007. ARS-Aberdeen Report February 11, 2008 Rich Novy and Jonathan Whitworth, USDA/ARS Aberdeen, Idaho Variety Development Two new potato varieties from were released in 2007: A88338-1 and A84180-8. Descriptions of these two varieties are detailed in the Idaho state report. In 2008, A95109-1 will be considered for release. It is an early-maturing, dual-purpose russet notable for its production of attractive tubers and its high percentage of U.S. NO.1 yield. A951 09-1 also expresses resistance to common scab and dry rot and has a low incidence of external and internal defects. Its primary weakness may be some susceptibility to shatter bruise that has been noted in WA. Additional information on A951 09-1 is provided in the Idaho state report. Research Ø Two papers detailing PLRV and PVY resistances derived from wild potato species S. etuberosum, and the localization of its PLRV resistance to chromosome 4 were published in 2007. Post-doctoral researcher, Kevin Kelley, who joined our program in September, 2005,has identified molecular markers closely linked to potato leafroll virus (PLRV) resistance from Solanum etuberosum that hold promise for use in marker-assisted selection (MAS). In collaboration with Dr. Alex Karasev, a Virologist with the University of Idaho, the mechanism of PLRV resistance also will be examined. Ø In collaboration with Susie Thompson and Neil Gudmestad, North Dakota State University, germplasm derived from the potato species S. etuberosum, S. berthaultii, and S. bulbocastanum have been identified as having pink rot and leak resistance. Our program is working to determine if previously characterized genes for late blight resistance identified in S. bulbocastanum and S. berthau/tii also contribute to the observed pink rot resistance. Ø Potato germplasm with species-derived resistance to wireworm is being evaluated to identify mechanism(s) of resistance and chemical compounds that may be contributing to resistance. This work is being conducted in collaboration with Roy Navarre, USDA-ARS, Prosser, WA, Dave Horton, USDA-ARS, Wapato, WA, and Juan Alvarez, University of Idaho, Aberdeen, ID, with funding from the ARS-State Partnership Potato Program. Ø Tuber moth resistant germplasm from the International Potato Center (CIP) in Peru were successfully used as parents in 2007 with seed of progeny to be planted this year. In addition, tuber moth resistant germplasm from Brazil was obtained as true potato seed in 2007. Seed was germinated and seedling tubers produced in the greenhouse. Seedling tubers will be planted as single hill selections in the field this year. Ø In 2007, potato germplasm from Europe with pale potato cyst nematode resistance were successfully used as parents. Additional clones derived from a New Zealand nematode resistant cultivar and germplasm from the Cornell breeding program also will be used as parents in 2008. Ø This year saw the completion of the 3rd year of the national PVY survey. Bioassays of 10 North American cultivars and advanced clones from the breeding program for foliar and tuber symptoms caused by PVY necrotic isolates from the survey have been completed. One more set of survey virus isolates and potato clones will be screened for foliar and tuber symptoms in 2008. Preliminary results show that tuber symptoms are cultivar and virus isolate dependant. In additional to PVY necrotic tuber symptoms, one PVYo strain has been shown to produce tuber symptoms. Previously, PVYo has not been shown to produce tuber symptoms. Severe tuber defects from PVY necrotic strains were noted in Yukon Gold, NDA5507-3Y, A9045-7, Alturas, with less severe defects noted in Ranger Russet. Ø PVY resistant cultivars obtained for use as parents include Puren from Chile and Gasore from Belgium. Gasore is PVYn strain resistant from tests in Europe. Ø Cultivar HilStar, with resistance to late blight, obtained from Sri Lanka has been used as a parent and HilStar crosses are currently being grown for evaluation. OREGON - STATE REPORT M. Vales, S. Yilma, D. Hane, L. Leroux, C. Shock, E. Feibert. S. James, B. Charlton and D. Culp The Oregon Potato Variety Development program plays an important role in the Pacific Northwest Tri-State Potato Program which includes University efforts in Oregon, Idaho and Washington and USDA/ARS efforts in Idaho and Washington. The Oregon program with its diverse five testing sites conducts a comprehensive breeding program from parental evaluation, crossing, multi-years selections and testing to final cultivar releases and Plant Variety Protection (PVP). The project combines molecular and conventional breeding together with foundation potato seed services (production of pronuclear minitubers and in vitro plantlets) in order to enhance breeding efforts. The main goal of the program is the development of new potato varieties with high quality, yield and resistance to major pests and diseases. When possible, multi-trait recurrent selection procedures are used. The development of high yield and high quality potato varieties with resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses allows producing potatoes under more cost-effective, environmental friendly and healthier conditions by using fewer inputs of chemical fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides and water and at the same time increasing the nutritional value and quality of the crop. The best entries in the 2007 Oregon State-wide trials were A096305-3, A096365-2, A098282-5, A000057-2 and AOO 1057-5 (the first two will be advanced to Western Regional trials, the remaining three will be advanced to Tri-State trials). Detailed Performance data for all 2007 Tri-State and Western Regional variety trials will be available in February, 2008, and will be posted on http://www.ars.usda.gov/mainJdocs.htm?docid=3019. In relation to color-flesh/specialty materials, the following select ions will remain in the Western Regional trials: POR00PG4-1, POR02PG5-l, POR01PG22-1, POR01PG 16-1, POR02PG26-5 and POR02PG37-2. New entries to regional trials are: PA96RR1-193, POR01PG45-5, OR00068-11 and POR03PG23-1. Three advanced potato clones, a long russet of dual use A096160-3 and two bright red skin clones, A093487-2R and C00861 07- L are in the process of being released. In the pipeline there are two Oregon advanced selections, A096164-1 and A096141-3, which show great potential for processing and fresh market use. A096164-l and a red fleshed clone, PORO 1PG20- 12, graduate this year. Specific accomplishments at each Oregon cooperating site: Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center (COARC), Powell Butte: " Produced and stored seed of 693 selections at Powell Butte for Oregon, TriState, regional, chip, specialty, and other trials to be conducted in 2008; " Packaged (5, 10, 25 and 50 lb sacks) and shipped 44,670 lb of seed to 18 research and 13 industry cooperators in 7 states and I Canadian province; " Produced about 4,000 seedling tubers from transplants in the greenhouse with resistance to nematodes, PVY, black dot, powdery scab and late blight; " Pre-selected, planted, harvested, and evaluated 30,099 single-hill seedling tubers and selected 175 for further evaluation; " Evaluated 155 selections in advanced, replicated statewide yield trials, and 419 selections in two preliminary non-replicated screening trials; " Summarized and published all variety trial information from 4 Oregon sites, 1 Washington site and 1 Idaho site (pdf files of the reports available at website listed below); " " Maintained a web site featuring a potato variety database that generates dynamic reports (http:/potatovariety .oregonstatc.edu/). Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC): " Evaluated 79 advanced TriState and Western Regional cultivars for chipping, fresh market, processing and specialty use characteristics adaptable to the lower Columbia Basin; " Evaluated yield and quality characteristic for 89 preliminary and advanced Oregon selections; " Grew out 321 Oregon selections and 44 USDA-ARS Aberdeen selections for visual re-selection, with 60 and 8 cultivars being selected, respectively; " Evaluated 10 USDA-ARS cultivars and 75 regional and TriState entries for early die resistance, PVY resistance and net necrosis development from PLRV infection; " Evaluated 84 TriState/Western Regional/USDA-ARS cultivars for field resistance to tuber worm; " Compared the seasonal development of AOA95 I55-7, and A0966160-3 with Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, and Umatilla Russet; " Evaluated 3 preliminary cultivars from the USDA/ARS Aberdeen program; Klamath Basin Research anti Extension Center (KBREC): " Evaluated 43 advanced TriState and Western Regional cultivars for fresh market, processing, and specialty use characteristics adaptable to the Klamath Basin; " Evaluated 137 preliminary and advanced Oregon cultivars for fresh market, processing, and specialty use characteristics adaptable to the Klamath Basin; " Screened 92 4-hill selections from 2006 single-hill specialty clones grown in Klamath County; " Evaluated 6 advanced TriState cultivars for response to various seed spacing densities; " Pre-selected, planted, harvested, and evaluated 24,340 single-hill seedling tubers and selected 195 further evaluation; " Cooperated on evaluation of pigment stability for 23 preliminary and advanced specialty-type cultivars; " Summarized and published all red-skinned and specialty-type variety trial information from all participating regional cooperators. Malheur Experiment Station (MES), Ontario: " Evaluated 19 Oregon selections, 19 selections in the Western Region Russet late trial, 11 selections in the Oregon Specialty Trial, and 24 selections in the Western Region Specialty Trial. " Determined tuber fry color, sugar ends, specific gravity, and other quality parameters for the 19 selections in the Oregon Statewide and the 19 selections in the Western Region Russet Late Trials. Crop and Soil Science (CSS) Dept. Headquarters, Corvallis: " Made more than 250 successful crosses between promising long russets, chippers, reds and specialties clones and parental clones with known resistance to tuber worm, PVY, PLRV, late blight, corky ring spot, and nematodes; " Produced more than 60,000 seedling tubers from TPS in Corvallis greenhouses for Oregon single-hill screening for 2008 planting. In addition, 20,000 B and C size seedling tubers will be sent to Texas A\&M University and the University of Minnesota for 2008 planting; " Evaluated agronomic and quality traits of 95 potato advanced clones (including russets, chippers, reds and specialty types) in replicated State-wide, TriState and Western Regional trials in Corvallis. " Evaluated foliar and tuber late blight resistance of 694 potato clones in artificially inoculated trials in Corvallis. 567 early generation selections were evaluated in 12- and 4-hills plots, 100 advanced breeding selections and named varieties and 27 varieties from the National Late Blight Evaluation Program were evaluated in replicated trials; " Cleaned five new potato clones, maintained 47 potato accessions in the disease-free clone bank and produced ~ 1,000 lbs of certified disease-free pre-nuclear minitubers; " Updated PVP applications for Oregon released varieties. PVP was granted to Winema, Klamath Russet, Wallowa Russet and Mazama. New PVP applications were submitted for Modoc and Willamette. We are now preparing release and PVP documents for A096160-3, A093487-2R and C0086107-1; " Performed molecular marker evaluations for PVY resistance on 60 clones selected in 2006 and on 92 parental lines used in our crossing block in 2007; " Cooperated on evaluation of pigment heritability and stability for 23 preliminary and advanced specialty-type potato clones; " Early generation potato clones (30 clones including parental lines) derived from crosses involving tuber worm resistant parents were screened for resistant to potato tuber worm damage in replicated trials under laboratory and field conditions in collaboration with experts at Hermiston experiment station; " Two graduate students have been working on their Master degree programs. Jose Ortega thesis project is on the genetic basis of PVY resistance in A93157-6LS and Paul Kingsley is working on quantitative resistance to late blight. Personnel Changes The Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center (KBREC) hired a new Superintendent, Willie Riggs, and a new Faculty Research Assistant, Darrin Culp. Darrin will be involved in potato research under Brian Charlton's supervision. Dan Hane (Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, HAREC) and Steve James (Central Oregon Agricultural Research Center, COARC) announced their plan to retire in 2009. Dan's and Steve's positions are very important for the Oregon Potato Variety Development Program. The Oregon Potato Commission and Russ Karow (Head of Crop and Soil Science Dept., OSU) are aware of the need to refill those positions. Russ Karow will meet with the Dean and with the off campus Research and Extension Center Superintendents to start the process to re-fill those positions. Dan and Steve are planning to continue working part-time for a while after they retire. Eric Eldredge (Post-Doc) at the Malheur Experiment Station (MES, Ontario) is no longer working at this site. A Faculty Research Assistant, Erik Feibert (Faculty Research Assistant), already on board, will be more involved in Potato Research in Ontario. Kandy Marling (Bioscience Research Technician) at Crop and Soil Science (CSS) Dept. Headquarters in Corvallis resigned in 2007. Two part-time Assistants (Jenny Reed and Bob Smith) have been hired. Two Master level graduate students, Jose Ortega and Paul Kingsley joined the Program in April of 2007.