Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Chair Tom Salaiz call the meeting to order at 8:14 AM

Introductions given and attendance passed around the room

Motion to accept agenda by Johnathon Whitworth, USDA-ARS; seconded by Rhett Spear, McCain Foods; vote unanimous

NIMSS Update – Mark McGuire, University of Idaho

• NIMSS system is up and running for online access
  • Previous years minutes available through site
• Noted the addition of new electoral position
  • In addition to a secretary and chair, a vice chair position has been added
    • Per this update, a vice chair position will have to be elected this meeting in addition to a new secretary

State Reports

• State reports may be found near the end of this document
• ID, OR, and WA reports were all given the day before during the Tri-State meeting, but are also included near the end of this report
• CA – Rob Wilson
  • Was not present to give update
• CO – Dave Holm (Report available digitally online)
  • Three new clones approved for PVP for 2015
    • Fortress russet, Red Luna and Midnight Moon
  • Currently working on a new PVP for 2016
  • Noted new work being conducted looking for nematode resistance
    • Columbia Root Knot nematode
  • TX – Doug Scheuring
    • Noted that Zebra Chip is still a concern
    • Discussed position vacancy at Texas A&M

PVMI Update – Jeanne Debons (PVMI)

• Discussed the progress of PVMI over the past 10 years
• PVMI has collected $2.2million that has been funneled back into the universities in the form of royalty checks
• Discussed the $500,000 “slush fund” that PVMI maintains due to a request by UI
  • Fund to be used for unexpected events such as lawsuits
• During a typical year, PVMI is responsible for:
  • Marketing and dissemination of information pertaining to new cultivars
  • Collecting royalties for PVMI cultivars
  • Controlling variety movement using MTA’s
    • Was stressed that all researchers need to aid in this part of PVMI’s work
  • Sagar Sathuvalli (OSU) asked when MTA’s are needed and with whom
    • Rich Novy (USDA-ARS) answered that individual universities are responsible for conducting MTA’s until line is more advanced.
    • Update was given on the change in PVMI cultivar licensing costs
      • Price has been reduced to attract new growers
        • For growers outside the Tri-State region, the cost is now $250
        • For growers within the Tri- State region, the cost is now $100
      • Jeff Stark (UI) asked where the licensing money is directed
        • Jeanne answered that the funds are allocated to the four partners; OSU, UI, WSU and USDA-ARS
      • Johnathon Whitworth (USDA-ARS) asked about the higher royalties on specialties
        • Jeanne answered that the increased cost aids in offsetting the fewer acres of specialty cultivars grown
      • Updated that Blazer Russet is gaining acceptance on the East Coast
        • Now accepted for processing in this region
      • Noted that Alturas and Classic Russet are still at the top of the list for income returned on royalties
      • Addressed the new relationship with Agrarfrost of Germany
        • The company will be growing a large trial of PVMI cultivars in Germany for 2016
      • Updated that Defender Russet is now being using in Bangladesh
      • Updated that Blazer and Sage Russet are being grown in China

Tissue Culture and Germplasm Maintenance – Lorie Ewing (UI)

• Tissue culture updates
  • In 2014, 92,000 tissue culture plants were sent out to growers (excludes university orders)
    • 12% of these were PVMI cultivars
  • In 2015, 89,000 tissue culture plants were sent out to growers (excludes university orders)
    • 10% of these were PVMI cultivars
  • 2016 numbers are still being compiled, but Lorie noted that roughly 13% of tissue culture plantlets were PVMI cultivars
• Mini tuber production updates
  • In 2014, 3622lbs of mini-tubers were sent out to growers
    • 72% by weight were PVMI cultivars
  • In 2015, 4246lbs of mini-tubers were sent out to growers
    • 61% by weight were PVMI cultivars

Western Regional Russet Early/Late Results – Rich Novy

• Reviewed: 2015 Western Regional Potato Variety Trial Report; compiled by Brian Schneider (USDA-ARS)
• Mark Pavek (WSU) commented that yield results in the 2015 WRT report for entry 19 from Hermiston were higher for early harvest than late harvest
• Sagar Sathuvalli addressed changes in report:
  • Entry 14 should be white flower
  • Table 3 entry 19 should be 509cwt/ac for early
  • Table 4 entry 19 should be 489cwt/ac for early
• Mike Lewis (HZPC) asked if a cultivar on table 4 comes in under 300cwt/ac in the early harvest is disposed of
  • Rich Novy said a discussion will be given at the end to address this remark
• Noted that entry 21 on table 10 had a large mean for early hollow heart due to high levels at the Dalhart site
  • All other sites had virtually no hollow heart
• Was decided that all report preparers should only use U.S. 1 tubers greater than 10oz when estimating defects
• Johnathon Whitworth discussed the disease rating scale
• Tom Salaiz (McCain Foods) commented that growers want more dual purpose cultivars
  • Mark Pavek answered stating that some growers would prefer to have clones that are designed specifically for a particular market

Break Taken at 9:48 AM

Meeting Reconvened at 10 AM

• Johnathon Whitworth made quick announcement
  • Announced that a virus screening seminar will be given on June 20^th at the Othello, WA WSU research station
    • Noted that infected blocks will be planted for visual inspection
  • Mark Pavek stated he will send out more information
    • Requested an RSVP system be put together to get a rough head count

Tom Salaiz handed out the minutes for 2015

Western Regional Russet Post-Harvest Report – Rick Knowles (WSU)

• Information presented available in WSU cultivar evaluation book
  • Also online at potatoes.wsu.edu
• Rick was asked if he could compile his merit scores into a single score for 2016
  • Rick stated he will do so
• Was noted that all clones were very resistant to bruise
  • Based on controlled impact and 24hr incubation
• Tom Salaiz asked if temperature ramping is used as clones are moved between storages with differing temperatures
  • Rick answered by stating there is no temperature ramping conducted
    • Also stated that this abrupt change really aids in separating out lines that have low temperature sweetening resistance
  • Mike Lewis asked if Rick could conduct a temperature ramping study
    • Rick stated he will look into it

Western Regional Russet Line Disposition – Peggy Bain (UI)

• AO6021-T will be returned
  • Will be evaluated as a dual purpose
• AO6084-1TE will be dropped
  • Poor quality, low gravities and low yields noted
• AO6862-18VR will be dropped
  • High glycoalkaloid levels
• AO6914-3CR will be dropped
• AO01114-4 graduated
• CO05110-6RU will be withdrawn per Colorado’s request
  • Seed issues noted as cause
• In response to the long list of new clones being added to the WRT, Mark Pavek reminded the group that it was decided in the past that each state is only allowed to enter 4 clones in the Regional Trial
  • In response, Colorado dropped CO04220-7RU and CO05152-5RU that were to enter the Regional Trial for 2016
• AO8009-2TE will not be entered in to the 2016 Regional Trial
  • Will instead remain in the Tri-State trial another year
• It was asked the amount of mini-tubers processors would like for POR06V12-3
  • Was stated that mini-tubers would available by 2017
  • Was asked that a deadline be set ASAP for mini-tuber requests

Western Regional Red/Specialty Report – Jeff Koym (Texas A&M)

• Was noted that a hard copy of the report will be emailed out to the group
• Jeff Koym discussed the difficulty to pick out an optimal sweet spot for gravities with specialties as one is not really known

Western Regional Red/Specialty Line Disposition – Peggy Bain

• Discussion was started about the possibility of leaving new entries in the regional for 3 years instead of 2 years
  • Was decided that the 2-year standard will remain unchanged unless a clone shows promise, then 3-year evaluation may be optimal
• AC05180-3P/Y will be returned for a third year of evaluation
• AO6336-5Y will be entered in both the Tri-State and Western Regional Trials for 2016
• Mike Lewis asked why only yellow flesh clones are moving on and no other colors are
  • Sagar Sathuvalli answered that the lack of other colors is due to the lack of selection during the single hill selections
• Seed sources were addressed
  • COA07365-4RY will be supplied by Oregon along with all the check lines
  • Texas and Colorado will supply seed for their own returned lines

Western Regional Chip Report – Dave Holm (CSU)

• The book for the chip report is available online through Colorado State University
  • Was also stated the book could be emailed out per request
• Brian Schneider brought it to the groups attention that the chip color scale has changed
  • Now on a scale of 1-6 instead of 1-5
  • The Snack Food Association is the author of the new scale and sales the chart for $150
• Johnathon Whitworth discussed the disease ratings
  • Noted that Atlantic and Snowden ratings were lower than typically observed
  • Advised making sure that new clones remain in the regional trial long enough to obtain stable disease rating data

Western Regional Chip Line Disposition – Peggy Bain

• OR09256-2 will be returned for 2016
• Seed sources
  • Oregon will provide seed for Snowden
  • All other seed for returning and new clones will be provided by the state from which the entry originated
• New chip scale
  • It was decided that all programs will move to the new 1-6 scale for 2016

Rating Synchronization

• Tom Salaiz suggested that all sites need to correspond with one another to come up with a common rating scale for data not measured or presented using the same units or sizes
  • Suggested a committee be formed to spearhead the change
• Peggy Bain added that the head tech for each program should get in touch and discuss their merit systems
  • Chelsea Lowder (UI) was chosen to head the suggested committee
    • Chelsea Lowder stated should would send out emails to other sites to begin synchronization discussions
  • Was suggested changes only be made to subjective merit scores
  • Discussion was also started about changing the tuber size category for internal defect screening
    • OSU and UI use oversized tubers; WSU uses 8-12oz
    • Johnathon Whitworth suggested footnotes be used to indicate only over 10oz tubers be used

Break for Lunch 11:44 AM

Meeting Reconvened at 12:02 PM

Oregon Release Proposal – Sagar Sathuvalli and Brian Charlton (OSU)

• Oregon to release 5 new clones
  • Terra Rosa (POR01PG20-12)
  • Smilin Eyes (POR02PG26-5)
  • AO96141-3
  • POR06V12-3
  • OR05039-4
• Sagar Sathuvalli stated that if there was any concern from the group about any of the suggested releases that they get in touch with him
• Jeanne Debons motioned to accept Oregon’s release proposals, Rick Knowles seconded the motion; vote was unanimous
  • Rich Novy voiced concern after the vote about Oregon’s proposed clones to be released
    • He stated that previous data on the clones should be gone through one more time to ensure the clones should be released prior to approval by the group
  • In light of the concern, Brian Schneider motioned to overturn the previous motion to approve Oregon’s release proposal, seconded by Rich Novy; the vote was unanimous
• Rich Novy than motioned that the technical committee approves Oregon’s release proposal contingent upon further review of the existing data on the cultivars, seconded by Rhett Spear; the vote was unanimous

2017 Meeting Date/Location

• WSU is responsible for planning the 2017 meeting date and site
  • When asked, Mark Pavek suggested the meeting could be held in conjunction with the WA/OR Potato Conference however, he said he would not be opposed to having the meeting the week after the conference in the Boise area.
    • Several scheduling conflicts were raised
    • Mark Pavek stated he would send out suggested areas/dates for the group to vote on
    • (NOTE, this text was added after actual meeting: after an email survey was sent out by Pavek, the majority of WERA and Tri-State people chose to meet in conjunction with the 2017 WA OR Potato Conference, their second choice was a warm, sunny location, third choice was Boise, ID)

Election of Vice Chair

• Sagar Sathuvalli nominated Steven Padgett (Simplot), seconded Nicole Bailey (OSU); the vote was unanimous

Election of Secretary

• Tom Salaiz nominated Rebecca Jones (Simplot), seconded by Jeanne Debons; the vote was unanimous

Potato Flavor Research – Raven Bough (CSU)

• Raven Bough gave a presentation regarding flavor profiling of potato clones using sensory analysis and HS-SPME/GC-MS

Seed Supplies and Shipping Lists – Brian Charlton

• Brian Charlton requested by way of Lori Ewing that all seed requests be received by February 15^th
• Brian Schneider asked when Texas needed seed
  • Texas responded March 12^th

NFPT Update – Ryan Krabill (USPB)

• Ryan Krabill stated the NFPT program will be discontinued in its current form
  • Also stated the importance of support for the program from all sectors of potato development
• Ryan Krabill stated that they are currently working to get NFPT 2.0 started
  • Tom Salaiz asked about the timing of the new program
    • Ryan Krabill suggested possibly crop year 2017

Many in the group motioned to adjourn and it was seconded by as many; the vote was unanimous

California: Rob Wilson, California Rocky Mountain Research and Extension Center, completed two cultural management studies in 2015 that included entries from the Western Regional program.  One management study evaluated black spot and white knot bruising on Russet entries in storage.  The other management study evaluated the appearance and quality of red and yellow skin specialty varieties after storage and commercial polishing

Colorado: Colorado grew 86,349 first-year seedlings representing 456 families in 2015, with 742 selected for subsequent planting, evaluation, and increase in future years.  A portion of these seedlings were obtained from the USDA-ARS (Aberdeen, Idaho), Agriculture Canada, Texas A&M University, North Dakota State University, and the University of Maine.  Another 865 clones were in 12-hill, preliminary, and intermediate stages of selection.  At harvest, 242 were saved for further increase and evaluation in 2016.  Sixty-two advanced selections were saved and will be increased in 2016 pending further evaluation.  Another 271 selections and cultivars were maintained for germplasm development, breeding, and other experimental purposes including seed increase/maintenance.

Idaho: Four new russet varieties were released in 2015 from the cooperative USDA/ARS - University of Idaho potato breeding and variety development programs in Aberdeen, Idaho.  The releases were made jointly by the USDA/ARS and the experiment stations of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The four new varieties include Targhee Russet (A01010-1), Payette Russet (A02507-2LB), Mountain Gem Russet (A03158-2TE) and Pomerelle Russet (A02062-1TE).

Targhee Russet is a dual purpose variety with vine maturity similar to Russet Burbank. It produces a high yield of attractive, long tubers with brown-russeted skin.  It has been trialed in both the western and eastern U.S. with higher marketable yields and fresh merit evaluation scores noted at most trial sites relative to Russet Burbank. However, tuber dormancy is about 50-60 days shorter than Russet Burbank. It is notable for its resistance to soft rot and has excellent resistance to most internal and external defects including blackspot bruise and hollow heart. It has significantly higher protein and vitamin C contents than those of most standard varieties, indicating that it can provide enhanced dietary levels of these phytonutrients.  Targhee Russet has moderate specific gravity and produces lighter colored fries out of storage than standard processing varieties. Industry evaluations of processing quality also indicate that Targhee Russet has good potential for producing fresh-cut fries.

Payette Russet is a full-season processing variety with higher yields of oblong, medium-russeted tubers having higher protein content than those of the standard russet potato varieties.  It has excellent cold-sweetening resistance, resulting in significantly lower reducing sugar concentrations and lighter fry color out of long-term storage than Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet. Tuber dormancy for Payette Russet is about 30 days shorter than Russet Burbank but it can be stored at 42^oF, which significantly extends the dormancy period.  Emergence is later than Russet Burbank, so Payette Russet needs at least a 120 day growing season for efficient production. It has resistance to tuber malformations and most internal and external defects, including blackspot bruise and hollow heart.  It has foliar and tuber resistance to late blight, as well as resistance to Verticillium wilt, early blight, and common scab. However, it is susceptible to Fusarium dry rot and will need to be managed accordingly. Payette Russet is also notable for having a high level of resistance to all PVY strains due to incorporation of the Ry_sto gene.

Mountain Gem Russet is a medium to late maturing variety notable for its high yields in both early and full-season trials.  Tubers of Mountain Gem Russet are oblong-long, medium-russeted with higher protein content than those of standard potato varieties. Sensory evaluations by taste panels have shown this variety to have excellent culinary qualities.    It has greater resistance to tuber late blight, tuber malformations and most internal and external defects than Russet Burbank. Mountain Gem Russet maintains acceptable reducing sugar concentrations and fry quality when stored at 48^oF and shows good potential for early processing. Tuber dormancy is about 70 days shorter than Russet Burbank. Fusarium dry rot susceptibility and weight loss in storage are similar to Russet Burbank. Mountain Gem Russet’s high early and late season total and U.S. No. 1 yields, coupled with good culinary and nutritional qualities, make it an excellent candidate for fresh market production.

Pomerelle Russet is an early maturing fresh variety, which produces moderately high early-season yields of long tubers with brown-russeted skin. It is notable for its very attractive, smooth skin and resistances to internal and external defects with a high percentage of U.S. No. 1 yield. Relative to industry standard varieties Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, Pomerelle Russet has greater resistance to soft rot, corky ringspot and tuber infections from late blight. It also has much lower total glycoalkaloid concentrations and higher protein and vitamin C concentrations than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank. It has moderate specific gravity and good resistance to sugar ends. It also has moderately long tuber dormancy, about 30 days shorter than Russet Burbank, and can maintain acceptable fry color for about 180-200 days in storage at 48^oF, indicating some potential for processing out of short or mid-term storage. However, its primary use appears to be as a high quality, early fresh variety.

In 2015, potato breeding clones, including over 100,000 single hills (1^st field generation clones), were planted, maintained, and harvested at three seed sites, with advanced breeding clones being evaluated in 32 replicated field trials in six locations across southern Idaho for their potential as new potato varieties. Particular emphasis was placed on selecting breeding clones with adaptation to local conditions, dual utility with use in both fresh and processing markets, production efficiency, and multiple disease resistances.

Oregon: Molecular techniques have been refined, which should hasten the transfer of desirable genes among varieties and introgression of novel genes from related wild species.  Recent collaborations with USDA/ARS faculty at Aberdeen, ID resulted in the combination of PVY, PVX, and pale cyst nematode resistance in a single cross using molecular markers.  OSU has recently validated the use of similar markers to screen for resistance to Columbia root-knot nematode (CRKN) and late blight Rb genes.  An effort to develop “Russet-All” association mapping panel was initiated in collaboration with other U.S. breeding programs.  Two hundred and sixty-four russet clones were collected and fingerprinted using 24 simple-sequence repeat markers. Genetic diversity analysis on these clones is underway to identify different heterotic groups. A subset of these clones in different heterotic groups, along with wild germplasm and long-day adapted S. phureja – S. stenotomum populations will be used for future studies on heterosis, marker-trait associations and genome wide selections. Further, whole genome sequence resources are being developed for S. bulbocastanum. We have assembled a draft genome of diploid S. bulbocastanum SB22 to provide additional genomic resources relevant to potato breeding. The reference genome of tetraploid S. tuberosum was used as a starting point for the assembly. The current genome assembly consists of 87,828 contigs ranging in length from 1,000 bp to 209,398 bp with total assembly of over 441mb.

Texas: 79,312 first year seedlings, resulting from 493 different parental combination or families (crosses), were grown for selection on the Barrett Farm (37,231) near Springlake and on the CSS Farm (42,081) near Dalhart

Washington: The effect of the Tri-State Potato Variety Development Program on the Northwest potato industry has been substantial. Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Alturas, Bannock Russet, and Clearwater Russet, are examples of russet cultivars released from the Tri-State program that have greatly benefited the United States and Northwest potato industry, being the 3nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and 16th most widely grown cultivars in the United States in 2015, respectively, with Tri-State varieties representing 23%, or 220,000 acres, of the fall crop nationally. (NASS, Crop Production, September, 2015). Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, and Alturas were the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th most widely grown cultivars in the PNW (ID, OR, WA) in 2015, respectively, and accounted for 24% of the PNW planted acreage.  Varieties recently released by the Tri-State program are now produced on more than 129,000 acres in the Pacific Northwest with value to growers estimated at approximately $470 million.  In the past 10 years, the US farm-gate value of Tri-State varieties has increased by approximately $43 million.

Barnett, B. A., Holm, D. G., Koym, J. W., Wilson, R. G., and Manter, D. K.  2015.  Site and clone effects on the potato root-associated core microbiome and its relationship to tuber yield and nutrients.  Am. J. Potato Res. 92:1-9.

Brandt, T., N. Olsen, J. Stark, R. Novy and J. Whitworth. Storage Management of Payette Russet  Potatoes. University of Idaho CIS 1220.

Essah, S. Y. C. and Holm, D. G.  2015.  Timing of nitrogen fertilizer application for increased N use efficiency in potato production of new russets from Colorado State University. Am. J. Potato Res. 92:187.  (Abstract).

Gray, C. P., Holm, D. G., Essah, S. Y. C., Jayanty, S. S., and Davidson, R. D.  2015.  Crestone Russet and Mercury Russet: Two new russet cultivars from the Colorado Potato Breeding and Selection Program.  Am. J. Potato Res. 92:190.  (Abstract).

Holm, D. G., Gray, C. P., Essah, S. Y. C., Jayanty, S. S., and Davidson, R. D.  2015.  Masquerade, Midnight Moon, and Red Luna: Three new specialty potato cultivars from the Colorado Potato Breeding and Selection Program.  Am. J. Potato Res. 92:192.    (Abstract).

Holm, D. G. and Gray, C. 2015.  2014 Potato Breeding and Selection Research Report to the Colorado Potato Administrative Committees (Area II and Area III).  100pp. (Unpub).

Holm, D. G., Gray, C., Zavislan, K.  2015.  2015 Open House and Advanced Selection Evaluation Meeting: Colorado advanced potato selections data summary.  43pp. (Unpub).

Kammlade, S. M., Holm, D. G., Essah, S. Y. C., and Stromberger.  2015.  The influence of agromanagement on potato mineral nutrients.  Am. J. Potato Res. 92:194.  (Abstract).

Markham, L., Reddivari, L., Ursell, L. K., Holm, D., Ziegler, G., Knight, R., Vanamala, J.  2015.  Potatoes can’t take the heat: Effects of cultivar and processing on global  metabolite/nutritional profiles. Am. J. Potato Res. 92:175. (Abstract).

Miller, J. C., Jr, Scheuring, D. C., Koym, J. W., Holm, D. G. Holm, Pavek, J. J., Novy, R. G.,  Whitworth, J. L., Stark, J. C., Charton, B. A., Yilma, S., Knowles, N. R. Knowles, Pavek, M., J. Pavek, Nunez, J. J., Shock, C. C., Brown, C. R.  2015.  ATTX961014-1R/Y a.k.a. Sierra Rose^TM: A red-skin, yellow-flesh potato cultivar for the specialty/gourmet market.  Am. J.    Potato Res. 92:491-496.

Stark, J.C., R.G. Novy, J. L. Whitworth, N.R. Knowles, M.J. Pavek, M. Thornton, R. Spear, C.R.      Brown, B.A. Charlton, V.  Sathuvalli, S. Yilma, N. Olsen, and T.L. Brandt.  2016.  Mountain Gem Russet: A potato variety with high early and full season yield potential     and excellent fresh market and early processing characteristics. Amer. J. Potato  Research (accepted for publication).

Wang, Y., Bethke, P. C., Bussan, A. J., Glynn, M. T., Holm, D. G., Navarro, F. M. Novy, R. G., Palta,     J. P., Pavek, M. J., Porter, G. A., Sathuvalli, V. R., Thompson, A. L. Voglewede, P. J., Whitworth, J. L., Parish, D. I., Endelman, J. B.  2015. Acrylamide-forming Potential and           agronomic properties of elite us potato germplasm from the national fry processing trial.  Crop Sci. 56:30-39.

Whitworth, J. L.  R.G. Novy1, J.C. Stark, M. Thornton, N.R. Knowles, M.J. Pavek, R.R. Spear, C.R. Brown, B.A. Charlton, V. Sathuvalli, S. Yilma, T.L. Brandt, and N. Olsen. 2016.   Targhee Russet: A High Yielding Dual Purpose, Long Russet Potato Cultivar having Higher Protein and Vitamin C Content and Resistance to Tuber Soft Rot. Amer. J. Potato   Research (accepted for publication).

Brandt, T., N. Olsen, J. Stark, R. Novy and J. Whitworth. Storage Management of Payette Russet Potatoes. University of Idaho CIS 1220.