Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes from the last meeting were approved.  Site selection for the 2019 meeting was discussed.  The committee agreed that Beltsville, MD is a good meeting location for the group, Kathy Haynes agreed to host, and January 3-4 or 7-8, 2019 were chosen as possible the meeting dates.  A final decision on the dates will depend on conflicts with other meeting dates.  A resolutions committee consisting of Mark Clough, Craig Yencho, and Walter De Jong was appointed.  Local arrangements details were covered.

An administrative advisor report was provided by Dean Frederick Servello.  He noted the successful rewrite and stated that he was happy to be our new administrative advisor.  He encouraged us to apply for ESS Excellence in Multistate Research Award; in his view our project is well integrated and has impact.  Application is on NERA website.

Jeff Steiner provided a report from USDA-NIFA via Skype.  He provided an overview of administrative procedures and all of the federal programs that can support potato research.  Including: potato breeding special grant ($1.8M), Hatch Act ($244M), Smith-Lever ($300M), crop protection and management program ($17M), sustainable agriculture research and education (SARE) ($25M), IR-4 ($12M), specialty crop and research initiative (SCRI) ($55M), organic research and extension initiative (OREI) ($19M), USDA-State potato partnerships ($1.2M), and agriculture and food research initiative (AFRI) ($350M). Industry can apply for rural development value-added producer grants, as well as to the small business innovation research (SBIR), beginning farmers and ranchers, and federal-state marketing programs.

  Research presentations were as follows:

• Kathy Haynes discussed her program’s direction for the next five years. Focus is on meeting biotic (late blight, common scab, soft rot) and abiotic (heat tolerance, reduced nitrogen) constraints to eastern US potato production.

• Chris Clarke started one year ago and provided an overview of his research with common scab. Is looking for host susceptibility factors to scab, reasoning that silencing them may confer resistance.  An interesting, unrelated observation: cultivars Red Norland, Ranger Russet and Upstate Abundance are unusual in that they are susceptible to some scab strains, resistant to others. 

• Xinshun Qu is conducting GWAS to identify loci associated with resistance to early and late blight. 234 cultivars, 21K SNP array.  Has detected EB loci on chromosome 5, LB loci on chromosomes 1, 3 and 5.

• Lincoln Zotarelli reported on research to characterize the high nitrogen utilization efficiency of chacoense. Has developed an in vitro system to study this.  The chacoense root system is much more prolific than tuberosum.  He also reported on selecting clones for the Papa Criolla market (small tubers, deep yellow flesh) from long day adapted phu-stn.

State and provincial reports were given describing production status, promising clones, and market needs.

• FL – 30,000 acres. Dry and windy weather early meant than growers who planted late (i.e., February) did better.

• ME – 49,000 acres. 60% fry and chips (latter mostly Frito-Lay).  Chip growers seem to be doing well, are building new storages.  Low rainfall during July and August (when tubers bulk).  Growers who irrigate did better than those who do not.  No serious disease issues in 2017

• NY – 16,000 acres. A lot of rain in May, so much planting was delayed, yields down accordingly.

• NC – 14,000 acres. Acreage remains steady, but number of growers is decreasing.  70% chip, 30% table.  Incidence of internal heat necrosis was low this year. 

• OH – 3500 acres. Also experiencing consolidation (fewer growers, acreage steady).   Volatile rainfall and temperatures but in the end, yields were good.

• PA – 5000 acres. 50% chip, 50% table.   Good growing season, yields better than average, but specific gravities were low.  High incidence of virus in the powdery scab trial, hosted by a farmer, may preclude further powdery scab trials there.

Comments from industry representatives in attendance at the meeting: 

• Curtis Frederick from Sterman Masser: his employer is a packer that also grows 1500 acres of potatoes. They are looking to develop varieties for the mid-Atlantic, to reduce shipping costs; their own production only supplies 5% of what they pack.  Would especially like a regionally adapted russet, as russets are currently the bulk of sales.   The convenience segment, which prizes uniformity, smooth skin, and shallow eyes, is growing rapidly.

Plant Pathology and breeding program reports were presented by participants. 

• Greg Porter distributed common and powdery scab trial data for all NE1731 entries. Noted that his colleague Jay Hao screens for resistance to pink rot, and that U Maine also tests virus reaction for all NE1731 entries.

• Xinshun Qu distributed results of early and late blight testing from PA (good data in 2017), as well as powdery scab trial results.

• Agnes Murphy (AAFC Fredericton) has now retired. Virginia Dickison has replaced her and has some added responsibilities beyond plant pathology.  She is continuing the wart and scab screening for the project.  Data for reaction to wart, conducted in Newfoundland, was distributed.  Scab screening data will be emailed later this year.

Breeding program reports were presented.

• 50% russets, 40% whites, 10% reds and specialty.  About 50,000 single hills each year, save between 2 and 2.5%.  ‘Sebec’ has a lot of merit, but not yet taking off.  ‘Caribou Russet’ is doing well, both for fry and fresh, but susceptibility to internal heat necrosis limits it to northern areas.  ‘Pinto Gold’ (red and yellow skin, yellow flesh) is doing well in the specialty market.

• New York. 18,000 seedlings, save 7%.  70% chip / 30% fresh.  NY141 was released as ‘Algonquin’, NY150 was released as ‘Upstate Abundance’.  NY152 will likely be named and released in 2018 (name not yet chosen).

• North Carolina. 12,000 seedlings, save 2.5%.  70% chip / 30% other.  NC470-3, a round to oblong PVY-resistant chipper that starts to bulk early, is promising.  Two specialty clones of interest are NC507-15 (red skin, red flesh) and NC509-16 (purple skin, purple flesh).  Program is now crossing twice a year: in fall (table and specialty crosses) and spring (for chipping).  Resistance to CPB, GN and PVY are primary targets.  Are using several markers routinely now to select for Ry-adg, Ry-sto, H1 and Ry-fsto.

• USDA-ARS. Crossing block efforts included: diploid in-bred line development; diploid nitrogen use efficiency; 4x chipper x 2x late blight; chipping variety development, especially to introduce virus resistance; and diploid heat tolerance.  3,000 seedlings for variety development, 70 saved for 2018 (2.3%).  The number of seedling for variety development was much lower than typical due to planting a large number of seedling tubers planted for genetic studies (1: seedling tubers from a diploid high specific gravity mapping population; 2: seedling tubers from a diploid late blight resistance mapping population; 3: seedling tubers from the S1 diploid generation).  Distributed summary of research progress (3 pages).

The NE1731 seed nursery shopping list was distributed and each clone was discussed.   No major changes were suggested for 2018.

Breeder’s choice selections for 2018 (all sites must evaluate these):

AF5040-8 (chips, higher gravity than Atlantic)

AF5280-5 (round white, fresh market, competitor for Envol)

AF5429-3 (chips)

NY152 (chips)

B3012-1 (chips)

Standard varieties to include in all NE1731 trials so K. Haynes can analyze G x E:

          Atlantic

Dark Red Norland

Snowden

Superior

Yukon Gold

Mark Clough provided an update on the project website: the process of including data is working well on his end and the database is growing.  People are welcomed to provide input on improvements.  Reports can be posted on the web site. Mark Clough reminded all of a decision made last year that all evaluators would include a merit score for each clone tested.  Where:

      1 = outstanding

      2 = good

      3 = so-so

      4 = not acceptable

     Each evaluator is to integrate all the trial data they collect for each clone each year, along with their knowledge of the local potato industry, to arrive at the merit scores.

Greg Porter provided an update on the Eastern USDA-NIFA Special Grant for Potato Breeding Research.  Appreciation was expressed to everyone for getting grant materials in on time.  The 2017 proposal was funded.  We now submit a proposal every two years, instead of every year.  Our group should consider a submission to OREI.

NE1231 rewrite was successful, we are now NE1731.  Porter distributed a draft impact statement, comments welcome.  We need a list serve; Kleinhenz volunteered to set one up.

Committee Reports

Resolutions (approved unanimously):

1. We thank Dean Servello of the Univ. of Maine, College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture for agreeing to serve as our Administrative Advisor and for taking time to attend our meeting. Next year we will strive to ensure that Wash, DC is not so Maine-like in-terms of the weather.
2. We thank Greg Porter for his leadership and service as our project coordinator, including shepherding the special grant through each year.
3. We thank Curtis Frederick for attending this meeting and his willingness to contribute perspectives from the potato industry. We look forward to working closely in the future.
4. We thank our NIFA colleagues Anne Marie Thro and Megan O’Reilly for their continued guidance and participation in our meetings.
5. We thank Kathy Haynes for her willingness to host both this year’s and next year’s NE1731 meeting.
6. We thank all presenters and the entire NE1731 group for their thought provoking talks. We are fortunate to have such good collaborators.

Project Accomplishments:

This multidisciplinary, regional project utilizes existing strengths and resources of the potato breeding and variety development community in the eastern US, and it encourages the pooling of regional resources and promotes increased communication within the potato community located in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeast. The overarching goal of this project is to identify new potato varieties for use in the Northeastern, mid-Atlantic and southeast US, which will contribute to a more sustainable and profitable potato industry. Many major US varieties, including Atlantic (the dominant out-of-field chipping variety in the US) and Lamoka (the dominant out-of-storage chipping variety in the US) are products of the coordinated eastern potato breeding and variety development effort. As such, the NE-1731 Project and its predecessors NE-1231, NE-1031, NE-1014, NE-184 and NE-107 have played a central role in eastern potato variety development for many years. 

This regional project has: 1) allowed potato breeders to share breeding materials and test results; 2) along with the USDA NRSP6 Potato Germplasm Enhancement Project it has facilitated potato germplasm selection and evaluation under diverse environmental conditions by all the breeding programs in the eastern US; 3) given research and extension personnel the opportunity to evaluate new selections from several potato breeding programs; 4) facilitated regional germplasm screening for specific characteristics at a single location (e.g. early blight and powdery scab resistance in PA; scab and virus resistance in ME); 5) developed variety profiles and cultural recommendations for each selection put into commercial production; and 6) as noted above, resulted in the release and adoption of many of the major potato cultivars currently produced in the eastern US.

Potato breeding for improved quality and pest resistance was conducted in ME, NY, NC, and USDA-ARS Beltsville, MD during 2017. These four programs focus on specific pest and marketing issues, so that regional resources are used efficiently.  For example, ME is the only breeding program in the region which focuses on russets and long whites for processing (50% russets, 40% fresh and chipping whites, 10% specialty).  ME also emphasizes research on late blight, pink rot, potato virus Y, and scab resistance.   During 2017, our programs generated 671 new tetraploid families (317,541 seeds) from crosses using parents with desirable quality, utilization, adaptation, and/or pest resistance traits. USDA-ARS also generated 115 diploid crosses (2x or 4x-2x; 48,906 seeds) for use in germplasm improvement.  Progeny (85,282) from earlier crosses were field selected resulting in 3394 clones that will be further selected during 2018 under conditions with diverse abiotic and biotic stress in the eastern U.S. and beyond.

Advanced clones from our project were introduced to growers through field days, presentations, publications, web sites, and direct contact with stakeholders.  Thirteen advanced clones were entered into tissue culture programs leading to commercial seed production. Several advanced clones and newly released varieties are currently being evaluated in commercial scale trials on-farm for their potential across the US.  NY’s two most recent chipping releases are Waneta (NY138) and Lamoka (NY139). Based on certified seed acreage in 2017, Lamoka (2702 acres) has replaced Snowden (1818 acres) as the standard storage chipping variety across the U.S.  Waneta has also been widely adopted (1025 acres of seed in 2017).  We estimate the value of potato chip production from Lamoka and Waneta for 2017 and 2018 was ~1 billion dollars per year (~15% of US chip production).  Sixteen clones from the eastern states have been in the Potatoes USA fast-track chip program since 2011, and the programs supported under this grant have annually contributed up to 40% of clones in the Potatoes USA National Chip Processors Trials (NCPT).

For fresh market, NY released Upstate Abundance (NY150) and Algonquin (NY141) during 2017.  Upstate Abundance is a specialty white with very small, bright tubers. It has potato virus Y (PVY), late blight, and golden nematode resistance as well as moderate common scab tolerance. It is being commercialized by specialty fresh market growers.  Algonquin is being grown for fresh market and is a white skinned, white fleshed variety.  It has high yields and good tuber appearance as well as resistance to common scab and golden nematode.  USDA-ARS released Little Ruby (B2152-17) during 2015 and Red Dawn (BNC201-1) will be released in 2018.  NY released Strawberry Paw (NY136) during 2013.  These three varieties are attractive, red-skinned potato varieties for high-value fresh market use. They have been adopted on a small-scale by specialty market growers, thus far.  Other fresh market releases Red Maria (2010), a high-yielding red, Lehigh (2007), a widely-adapted yellow-fleshed variety, and Peter Wilcox (2007), a novel purple-skinned, yellow-fleshed variety continue to be adopted by fresh market growers.  AF4659-12, is a pinto-type, yellow-fleshed ‘roasting’ variety is also being commercialized by small-scale local foods markets.  It will be officially released as Pinto Gold during 2018.

Caribou Russet (AF3362-1) was released during 2015 for fry processing and russet fresh market.  It is being rapidly adopted due to high yields, scab and verticillium resistance, and excellent consumer quality. AF4124-7, AF4172-2, AF4296-3, AF5071-2, and AF5406-7 are advanced fry processing clones that are generating commercial interest.  Twenty additional French fry clones are currently being evaluated by North American potato processors.  Reveille Russet, Teton Russet, AF5312-1, and TX08352-5Ru were promising fresh market russets.

Each eastern breeding program submits its most promising advanced clones to the regional project’s seed nursery in ME.  During 2017, the project distributed seed potatoes for 12 regional potato variety trials conducted in seven states and two Canadian provinces.  Eleven standard varieties and 20 experimental clones were tested for yield, tuber quality, and pest resistance.  NE1731 Regional potato variety trials were conducted at three ME locations during 2017.  The regional trial sites (numbers of clones tested) were: Presque Isle (30), St Agatha (29), and Exeter (16).   NE1731 variety trials were also conducted in FL, NC, NY, VA, PA, OH, and Canada (NB, QC).  Each regional trial site reports results to their local stakeholders and submits their data to the project website coordinator located in NC.  The data are entered into a searchable database so that results are accessible to stakeholders and researchers anywhere in the world. Based on 2017 Maine results, AF4648-2, AF5040-8, AF5429-3, NY152, and NY157 were the most outstanding chipping prospects.  AF4138-8, AF4648-2, and AF5280-5 were promising round-white fresh market clones.  AF4659-12, AF4831-2, AF5245-1, and NY161 were promising reds and specialty clones.  Caribou Russet, Reveille Russet, Teton Russet, AF4124-7, AF4296-3, AF5312-1, and TX08352-5Ru were the top performing russeted clones.

Our project web site and interactive searchable database, which is updated regularly, (see: http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/NE.html) continues to grow in importance and popularity.  Evidence of its importance is the fact that it has been used as a model for other regional and national projects (e.g.  the USDA-NIFA SCRI potato acrylamide mitigation project and the USPB national chip trials). The web site provides current contact information for project cooperators and recent research reports, as well as access to our regional variety database and a dynamic summary generator for all released varieties. The interactive database has become popular as a tool used by researchers and stakeholders, and it can be viewed at < http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/nesrch.php>.  The summary generator allows users to build a cultivar summary that contains the most up-to-date performance data in a concise one-page format <http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/nesummary.php>.

New varieties and descriptions.

This project seeks, through activities coordinated across many Northeastern states, to develop potato varieties with improved agronomic, disease-resistance, and nutritional characteristics.  It is anticipated that improved potato cultivars will help maintain the viability of rural economies, reduce dependence on pesticides, and contribute substantially toward maintaining a secure, safe and nutritious food supply.

Advanced Experimental Potato Clones Showing Particular Promise in 2017 include:

• AF4124-7 (A8469-5 x SC9512-4), a medium maturing, russet with good fry quality, fair tuber appearance, early sizing, and high yields.  US#1 yields have averaged ~119% of standard russeted varieties (usually Russet Burbank) in Maine trials.  Specific gravity is moderate (average of 1.085 in ME trials) and fry color from storage has been good.  It is moderately resistant to scab and has good blackspot bruise resistance. 
• AF4296-3 (A0508-4 x A99081-8), a widely adapted, late maturing, russet with good fry quality, fair tuber appearance, and high yields.  US#1 yields have averaged ~111% of standard russeted varieties (usually Russet Burbank) in Maine trials.  Specific gravity is moderate (average of 1.079 in ME trials) and fry color from storage has been good.  It has been an outstanding performer in the national fry processing trials (NFPT).  It is moderately susceptible to scab, but has moderate verticillium resistance and good bruise resistance.  
• AF4648-2 (NY132 x Liberator), a mid-season, round to oblong white with good yields, moderately-high gravity, bruise resistance, very good chip color, and good appearance.   It could go for chipping or fresh market.  It has good scab resistance and is resistant to golden nematode and PVY. 
• AF4659-12 (A99331-2 x US147-96RY), a yellow-fleshed “pinto-type” specialty variety with a interesting red and yellow skin pattern.  It produces small, fingerling-type tubers that are excellent roasted, boiled, or fried.  It will be officially released as Pinto Gold during 2018.

• AF4831-2 (ND028946B-1 x ND8555-8) has bright red skin with a smooth, attractive skin finish, round to oblong tuber shape, white flesh, good cooking quality, medium to medium-late vine maturity. Yields are often good, but tuber size tends to be quite small).  It has moderate scab resistance along with verticillium wilt and blackspot bruise resistance.

• AF5040-8 (AF2376-5 x Lamoka), a mid-season, high yielding, high gravity chipper with pale yellow flesh and relatively small tubers.  It has good internal quality and chips from 50F storage, but it will most likely be useful as an alternative to Atlantic for out-of-field chipping.  It is susceptible to common scab.
• AF5280-5 (ND7791C-1 x ND860-2), an early, round to oblong white with good yields, large tubers, moderate-low gravity, good chip color, and good appearance.  It could go for early  fresh market.  It has good scab, bruise, hollow heart, pink rot, and golden nematode resistance. 
• AF5312-1 (A86106-6 x CO82142-4), a medium maturing, fresh market russet with good appearance, flavor, and high yields.  US#1 yields have averaged ~143% of standard russeted varieties (Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah) in Maine trials.  Specific gravity is moderate (average of 1.078 in ME trials) It is resistant to scab and has good blackspot, shatter, and fusarium. 
• AF5429-3 (Dakota Pearl x NY140), a medium-late maturing, round to oblong white with good yields, large tubers, moderately-high gravity, very good chip color, and good appearance.   It has resistance to verticillium wilt and blackspot bruise, but it susceptible to common scab.
• B2904-2 is a high yielding, high specific gravity clone that may be useful for chipping out-of-the field as an alternative to Atlantic.  Specific gravity had been similar to Atlantic, while marketable yields have averaged 121% of Atlantic.  Like Atlantic, it is susceptible to hollow heart.
• BNC182-5 a mid-season, moderate to high specific gravity, chip stock clone.  It has round to oblong tubers with netted skin. Yields have been high in many NE1731 trials.  It chips well from the field in the SE states, but is not a good storage chipper.  It has low incidence of internal and external defects. It has good scab resistance and is resistant to potato virus Y (PVY).
• BNC201-1 is a promising specialty clone (red skin, yellow flesh). It will be released as Red Dawn in 2018.
• NC470-3 (Marcy X NC182-5), a round to oblong PVY-resistant (Ryadg) chipper that starts to bulk early, is promising.  Nationally trialed through the NCPT in 2016 and 2017 specific gravity was within 2 points of Atlantic overall, visual out of the field chip color was also similar to Atlantic (two tenths better on average) and percent yield of number one size tubers was 2% better than Atlantic. Yield trials in North Carolina to date have had similar results, except that marketable yields have been 136% Atlantic.
• NC507-15 (NCH52-1 X BNC240-2), a promising specialty clone (red skin, red flesh). With oblong to long shapes this clone is a fingerling type with 78% of yield being below 2 ½” and 38% below 1 7/8”.
• NC509-16 (NCH52-1 X BNC244-5), a promising specialty clone (purple skin, dark purple flesh).  Shapes are oblong, with very smooth tight skin, 63% of total yield is below 2 ½”, 44% between 1 7/8 and 2 ½”.
• NCB3171-1 (NY121 X Ivory Crisp), an early maturing, round, PVY-resistant (Ryadg) chip type. Trialed in the NCPT in 2016 and 2017 gravity averaged within 3 points of Atlantic across all trials, size profile overall is smaller than Atlantic but total yield was 104% of Atlantic. In North Carolina yield trials have shown this clone to be similar in gravity and 119% of Atlantic for marketable yield.
• NY152 (B38-14 x Marcy), a late-season, moderate to high specific gravity, chip stock clone with excellent chip color from storage.  It has round to oblong tubers with netted skin.  Yields have been very high in many trials.  It has good scab resistance and may be resistant to potato virus Y.    Hollow heart susceptibility is sometimes a concern.
• NY157 (White Pearl x NY115), a mid-season, moderate to high specific gravity, chip stock clone.  It has round to oblong tubers with netted skin. Yields have been high in many ME, NY, and PA trials.  Chip color from storage is very good.  It has low incidence of internal and external defects. It has moderate scab resistance and is resistant to golden nematode (Ro1).
• NY161 (Daisy Gold x C24-1), a mid-late season, yellow-fleshed tablestock variety with purple splashes on the skin.  Tubers are usually very attractive; however high growth crack incidence has been observed in some trials.  Yields have been high in many trials.  Chip color from storage is very good. It has moderate scab resistance.  
• NY162 (E106-2 x E48-2), a late-season, moderate to high specific gravity, chip stock clone.  It has round to oblong tubers with netted skin. Yields have been high in many NY trials.  Chip color from storage is very good.  It has low incidence of external defects and relatively low hollow heart incidence (4% across 11 trials). It has moderate scab resistance and is resistant to golden nematode (Ro1). 

Project milestones for 2017, and progress related to each of these, follow:

Conduct multidisciplinary conventional and molecular marker-assisted breeding, germplasm enhancement, and early-generation selection research to improve potato productivity and quality for important Eastern U.S. markets.

Breeding:  During 2017, our programs generated 671 new tetraploid families (317,541 seeds) from crosses using parents with desirable quality, utilization, adaptation, and/or pest resistance traits. USDA-ARS also generated 115 diploid families (2 x or 4x-2x; 48,906 seeds) for use in germplasm improvement.  Progeny (85,282) from earlier crosses were selected resulting in 3,394 clones that will be further selected under conditions with diverse abiotic and biotic stress in the eastern U.S. and beyond. Crosses conducted by the University of Maine continue to emphasize russets (50%) for processing and fresh; however, a significant component of the program is represented by round whites and chipping types (40%) and specialty types (10%).  Cornell University, NC State University, and USDA-ARS Beltsville place strong emphasis on breeding for chip quality and utilization, but also include fresh market, colored-skin, and specialty types in their breeding goals.  Multi-site evaluation of early-generation clones is being used to speed the breeding and selection process through identification of broadly- and specifically-adapted clones.  We especially emphasize selection for heat tolerance by early generation selection of breeding materials from all programs at the NC and FL trial sites. 

USDA-ARS conducted 4x-2x crosses to transfer the late blight resistance present in a 2x phu-stn population into 4x chipping germplasm.  Twelve 4x parents were crossed with 21 high specific gravity, late blight resistant 2x phu-stn parents.  Thirteen families resulted and a total of 220 seeds were generated.  The 4x-2x crosses in the USDA-ARS program also partially focus on yellow-fleshed tetraploid S. tuberosum (tub) and orange-fleshed diploid S. phureja-S. stenotomum (phu-stn) to enhance the carotenoid content in tuberosum. The phu-stn combinations are also being used to enhance tuber specific gravity.  Diploid yellow- and orange-flesh clones from the Papa criolla project were evaluated in FL, NM, PA, and ME in 2017 at 4, 6, and 8 inch spacing.  Mini-tubers from the diploid high specific gravity mapping population were divided between ARS and Oregon State University and were planted for seed increase at each location.  Specific gravity in the ARS population grown in ME ranged from 1.044 to 1.115.  More detailed evaluation of this population’s tuber specific gravity will be conducted in 2018 and 2019.

Research on the genetics of internal heat necrosis (IHN) and the development of clones and populations with improved resistance to this tuber defect continued.  The test site in NC provides good environmental conditions that all four breeding programs utilize in selecting for IHN resistance. In 2016, NC screened a total of 699 early generation clones. Of these 240 were from NC, 251 from ME, 77 from the USDA-ARS Beltsville, and 131 clones were from the NCPT (with clones from CO, ME, MI, NC, NY, OR, TX, USDA-MD and WI).  The NC mapping population B2721 was genotyped with the Infinium^® 8303 SNP array developed by the USDA-NIFA SolCAP project and quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected for IHN on chromosomes 1, 5, 9, and 12. Genetic effect models explained roughly 28 and 25% of the variation for IHN incidence and severity, respectively and we have tentatively identified several candidate markers for IHN susceptibility. The B2721 population has also been phenotyped for chip color, specific gravity, and scab reaction. QTL analyses of these traits is underway. Because sufficient funding is not available to carry the QTL studies forward within this USDA-NIFA program, we are looking for additional support to advance this research.

VA studies are in progress to associate physiological processes responsive to environmental stresses with IHN development. Specifically, the activity of catalase and peroxidase, key factors of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system, appear to be associated with temperature increases above 30°C and varies with cultivar. However, the association of membrane integrity (leakage) with IHN was inconclusive at this time. Studies to determine the tuber phenolic content in response to temperature are in progress.

VA continues conducting field evaluations of 4x-2x hybrids, preliminary selections and advance breeding lines from the eastern breeding programs. During 2017, 267 4x-2x hybrids from the VA potato genetics program were field screened for performance in VA.  Yield, quality, and responses to stressing temperatures were evaluated since they are critical factors in selecting suitable varieties for production in VA.

Selection:  USDA-ARS and ME send seed from all clones in the second or third field generation (12-hill or 60-hill stage) to cooperators in FL and NC for early generation evaluation and to select materials with adaptation to the short-season Southeastern U.S. environmental.  All of our programs send seed from more advanced field generations (third and higher) to regional cooperators (FL, NC, VA, PA, OH, NY, ME) for continued phenotyping, selection, and advancement.  Advanced clones from our project were introduced to growers through field days, presentations, publications, web sites, and direct contact with stakeholders.  Thirteen advanced clones were entered into tissue culture programs leading to commercial seed production.  

Use novel and improved potato germplasm to reduce the impact of economically important potato pests and abiotic stress in the Eastern US.

The project places special emphasis on breeding and selecting clones with resistance to late blight, early blight, scab, golden nematode races Ro1 and Ro2, and potato virus Y (PVY).  Wild or cultivated diploid germplasm that we are using to introduce novel traits for pest resistance or improved quality includes:  S. phureja and S. stenotomum for resistance to early and late blight (with PA State), soft rot with U ME) (USDA-ARS) and high specific gravity (with OrSU); S. bulbocastanum for late blight and insect resistant (ME), S. chacoense for insect resistance (USDA-ARS, NC); S. hougasii for late blight resistance (USDA-ARS, ME); S. candolleanum, S. kurtzianum, S. verrucosum, and S. sogarandium for heat tolerance (USDA-ARS); and S. berthaultii for insect resistance (NY, NC).  In addition, 4x-2x  crosses were made between tbr and cycle four late blight resistant phu-stn clones.

Marker-assisted selection is being used to speed the development of PVY and golden nematode resistant varieties. All NY round whites, and most of the NY colored crosses, segregate for resistance to golden nematode Ro1 or Ro2, as do many crosses from the ME, NC and USDA programs. Upstate Abundance (formerly NY150), released by Cornell in 2017, has resistance to late blight, common scab, potato virus Y, and golden nematode. AF4648-2, a promising white-skinned variety that is being commercially evaluated has resistance to scab, late blight, PVY, pink rot, and golden nematode.  Disease resistant varieties generated by this project have the potential to greatly reduce growers’ losses to devastating diseases such as late blight and can also reduce production costs. Golden nematode, a serious pest found in NY and in other countries, cannot be effectively managed without resistant varieties.

Golden nematode: Breeding efforts in NY have emphasized resistance to golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) Ro1; however, resistance to race Ro2 is also a priority.  The NY program developed Ro2 resistance by selecting for adaptation within a collection of South American tetraploids, and work has begun to procure additional sources of resistance from Europe to broaden the genetic base of resistance and provide resistance to G. pallida.  All NY round whites, and most of the NY colored crosses, segregate for resistance to golden nematode Ro1 or Ro2, as do many crosses from the ME, NC, and USDA programs.  The USDA-ARS and ME programs also use parental materials with nematode resistance.  Progeny from crosses using resistant parents are being evaluated for resistance to both races of the golden nematode (NY and USDA-ARS).  NY’s H1 PCR-based marker is also being also used to screen clones for Ro1 resistance (NY, NC, ME).  NY is also testing for resistance to G. pallida using in vitro techniques. Recent Cornell Ro1 resistant releases have achieved commercial success, including Andover, Pike, Reba, Marcy, Lehigh, Waneta and Lamoka.  All of these varieties also have moderate to good resistance to common scab.  All clones that have survived three or more years of selection in NY are evaluated for resistance to golden nematode race Ro1 as well as common scab each year. USDA-ARS in NY provides golden nematode screening for the eastern programs. Six of eight  ME clones (75%) showed golden nematode (Ro1) resistance during 2017. Twenty-nine of 168 ME clones (17.1%) tested positive for the H1 marker indicating that these clones are resistant. Eighty-eight of 359 (cycle 2 and higher of selection) clones (24.5%) tested positive for the H1 marker in North Carolina.

Late and early blight:  PA serves as the project’s key screening site for resistance to several important potato diseases.  Early selection for late blight resistance with the ME and USDA-ARS Beltsville breeding programs occurs there.  The most promising late blight resistant selections from ME, NY, and USDA-ARS undergo field evaluation for resistance in PA within the NE-1731 regional project. Two of 18 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant to late blight in 2017 PA trials.  The moderately resistant clones were AF4615-5 and  AF4648-2.  Three of 18 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant to early blight in 2017 PA trials.  The moderately resistant clones were AF4615-5, AF4648-2, and AF5225-1.  Fifty-eight advanced breeding clones in the ME program showed high levels of late blight resistance in 2017 PA trials.  Seventy of ME’s 3^rd year clones (70 of 231, 30.3%) showed high levels of late blight resistance in 2017 PA trials. 

During 2017, a tetraploid mapping population of 260 clones from USDA-ARS Beltsville, and five breeding lines from NC were evaluated for late blight resistance in PA.  Late blight resistant clones were selected as a result of this research. Resistance genes/QTLs are in the process of being mapped on the tetraploid mapping population. Also, approximately 220 cultivars were evaluated for early blight and late blight resistance and will be used in genome wide association studies to identify possibly new genes associated with early blight and/or late blight resistance.  A diploid S. phureja-S. stenotomum population, resulting from a cross of a highly resistant late blight clone x a susceptible clone, was planted in the field in 2017 at USDA-ARS, with seed increases to take place in 2018, prior to evaluating for late blight resistance in PA  and will be used to map genes involved in late blight resistance in this population using the SolCap-derived SNP chip (USDA-ARS, PA). USDA-ARS maintains a diploid Solanum phureja-S. stenotumum population (phu-stn) that has undergone multiple selection cycles for resistance to late blight. The levels of resistance in the diploid phu-stn population increased dramatically over multiple selections cycles. To avoid narrowing the genetic base, the most resistant clone from each maternal half-sib family was planted in a seed nursery, and open-pollinated seed was collected to advance the population to the next selection cycle. Clones with high levels of resistance were screened for 2n pollen production, and those that produced at least 5% 2n pollen continue to be  utilized in 4x-2x crosses. Hybrids between tuberosum and late blight resistant diploids have now proceeded through four cycles of resistance selection.    Resistant clones from this breeding effort have been utilized in 4x-2x crosses to tuberosum to transfer this resistance into the tetraploid population and these materials will continue to be developed.  The cycle four late blight resistant phu-stn population was also evaluated for soft rot resistance (USDA-ARS, ME) in 2017 and this study will be repeated in 2018.

This project will provide potato breeders with a valuable new source of resistance to both early blight and late blight diseases and possibly soft rot.  The University of Maine and several other North American Potato Breeding programs are already using this new late blight resistant material in their crossing programs.  USDA-ARS is preparing to release germplasm from this population to the national and international potato breeding community in 2018.

Scab: ME, NY, PA, and USDA-ARS screen and select for resistance to scab in inoculated and/or naturally-infected field experiments.  Lines are tested over multiple years because of environmental effects on disease incidence and severity.  Scab resistant parents are used extensively in all four breeding programs.  Clones showing resistance are being used as parents to improve the level of resistance in future germplasm.  Fifteen experimental NE-1731 clones were compared with standard varieties in two University of Maine scab screening trials during 2017.  Six (Teton Russet, AF4296-3, AF4552-5, AF5280-5, NY157, and NY161) were moderately resistant or resistant in these trials.  Including 4^th-year, advanced, and NE-1231 clones, 58 of 142 University of Maine selections (40.8%) had scab resistance in our 2017 screening trial. Thirteen experimental NE-1731 clones were compared with standard varieties in a screening trial conducted by AAFC, Fredericton, NB, Canada during 2017.  Seven (AF4552-5, AF4648-2, AF4831-2, AF5245-1, AF5280-5, NY158, and NY161) were moderately resistant or resistant in these trials. During 2017, 209 breeding clones of early generation from USDA-ARS and five breeding lines from NC were screened for scab resistance in PA and resistant clones were selected.

The NE1731 cultivars and advanced breeding lines were also evaluated for powdery scab resistance on a farmer’s farm in Potter County, PA during 2017. Two out of 18 were characterized resistant to moderately powdery scab resistant.  These were Caribou Russet and ND8068-5Russ. 

Potato Virus Y (PVY) As a result of the NY neotuberosum project, extreme resistance to PVX and PVY is present in many NY breeding lines.  The variety Eva, for example, is immune to both PVX and PVY.   All four breeding programs continue to include virus-resistant clones as parents. Marker-assisted selection for potato virus Y resistance (Whitworth et al. 2009; Ry_adg, RYSC3, Kasai et al, 2000; Ry_sto, YES3, Song and Schwarzfischer 2008) are being used to supplement traditional screening methods and provide earlier detection of resistant clones.  ME has also added resistance from S. chacoense to its germplasm and now has the ability to test for DNA-based markers for resistance conferred by Ry_chc. Upstate Abundance (formerly NY150), released by Cornell in 2017, has resistance to potato virus Y and tests positive for the RYSC3 marker indicating resistance conferred by Ry_adg.  AF4648-2, a promising white-skinned variety that is being commercially evaluated for fresh and chipping markets, also has resistance to potato virus Y and tests positive for the RYSC3 marker indicating resistance conferred by Ry_adg.  Twenty-two of 168 ME clones (13.1%) tested positive for the RYSC3 marker indicating resistance conferred by Ry_adg.  Thirteen of 168 ME clones (7.7%) tested positive for the YES3 marker indicating resistance conferred by Ry_sto.  Forty-nine of 359 NC clones (cycle 2 and higher of selection) tested positive for the RYSC3 marker, Ry_adg (13.6%), 4 tested positive for the YES3 marker, R_ysto (1.1%) and 4 tested positive for (an unpublished marker courtesy of Shelley Jansky and Amy Charkowski) for Ry_chc (1.1%).

Potato Wart: Thirteen experimental NE-1731 clones were compared with standard varieties in a screening trial conducted in Newfoundland by AAFC, Fredericton, NB, Canada during 2017.  Four (AF4552-5, AF5280-5, ND8068-5, and NY158) were resistant in this trial.  AF4615-5, AF4648-2, AF4831-2, AF5040-8, AF5225-1, AF5245-1, AF5429-3, BNC364-1, and NY161 were susceptible.

Colorado Potato Beetle: NC continued to select and screen specific families with potential Colorado potato beetle CPB resistance.  For the first cycle of selection in 2016, they changed from screening duplicated 2-hill plots for CPB resistance and adaptability separately, to a single 4-hill plot and selected on yield and overall appearance.  This is because NC is now planting all trials at the research station with a 2-row carousel planter and 2-hill plots are difficult to keep organized, whereas 3- and 4-hill plots are manageable. NC planted 952 4-hill plots for selection purposes.  They selected 216 clones that were advanced for CPB screening as two replicated 3-hill plots (2by3 trial), and for parallel horticultural adaptation selection as non-replicated 6-hill plots in 2018.  In the 2017 2by3 trial, 330 clones were simultaneously evaluated for CPB resistance and adaptation in non-replicated 6-hill plots.  After making selections in both of these trials, NC advanced 44 clones to the 2018 screening trial of three replications with 5-hills each (3by5 trial) and parallel horticultural adaptation selection in non-replicated 20-hill plots.  In the 2017 3by5 trial, NC simultaneously evaluated 7 clones for CPB resistance and for adaptation in non-replicated 20-hill plots.  NC selected 3 clones for advancement to the 2018 four replications by 10-hills (4by10) screening plots and non-replicated 60-hill trial.  In the 2017 4by10 we had a total of 4 clones and one of those were selected for evaluation in 2018. The 4by10 trial is our most advanced screening trial and the most advanced clones will remain in this trial until testing is complete, also some of the clones with promise will be placed in yield trials if they have the appropriate agronomic characteristics.  New varieties with high levels of natural CPB resistance have potential to facilitate production of potatoes with fewer pesticides contributing to the sustainable crop production.

Nitrogen-use Efficiency During 2017, USDA-ARS focused on crosses between diploid phu-stn and S. chacoense (chc).  The goal of these crosses was to incorporate the NUpE of chc into long-day adapted phu-stn.  Eight phu-stn clones from the late blight resistance population were crossed with 34 chc clones with varying levels of NUpE.  Ninety-one families resulted with a total of 46,700 seed.

Heat tolerance: During 2017, USDA-ARS crossed its long-day adapted diploid phu-stn population with clones from seven wild species accession that have been identified as heat tolerant. The most successful crosses in this block were with wild species S. candolleanum (20 families produced), S. brevicaule (4 families), S. sogarandium (3 families), and S. verrucosum (2 families). 

Selection:  Each of the breeding programs maintain plots for resistance screening (e.g. NC, CPB resistance; ME, scab, verticillium, late blight, pink rot, fusarium, PVY and PLRV; NY late blight, scab, insect resistance, PVY; USDA-ARS late blight, scab; and/or or utilize regional collaborators (USDA-ARS NY for golden nematode resistance; Penn State for late blight, early blight, and powdery scab; ME for scab and virus resistance). Marker-assisted selection is being used to speed selection for PVY and golden nematode resistance.

Evaluate yield, quality, and pest and abiotic stress resistances of preliminary and advanced potato breeding lines in experimental- and commercial-scale trials at multiple Eastern locations to aid industry adoption of new varieties.

Each eastern breeding program submits its most promising advanced clones to the regional project’s seed nursery in ME.  During 2017, the project distributed seed potatoes for 12 regional potato variety trials conducted in eight states and two Canadian provinces.  Eleven standard varieties and 20 experimental clones were tested for yield, tuber quality, and pest resistance.  NE1731 Regional potato variety trials were conducted at three ME locations during 2017.  The regional trial sites (numbers of clones tested) were: Presque Isle (30), St Agatha (29), and Exeter (16).   NE1731 variety trials were also conducted in FL, MD, NC, NY, VA, PA, OH, and Canada (NB, QC).  Each regional trial site reports results to their local stakeholders and submits their data to the project website coordinator located in NC.  The data are entered into a searchable database so that results are accessible to stakeholders and researchers anywhere in the world. Based on 2017 Maine results, AF4648-2, AF5040-8, AF5429-3, NY152, and NY157 were the most outstanding chipping prospects.  AF4138-8, AF4648-2, and AF5280-5 were promising round-white fresh market clones.  AF4659-12, AF4831-2, AF5245-1, and NY161 were promising reds or specialty clones.  Caribou Russet, Reveille Russet, Teton Russet, AF4124-7, AF4296-3, AF5312-1, and TX08352-5Ru were the top performing russeted clones.

PA provides a centralized site for screening late blight, early blight, and powdery scab resistance.  USDA-ARS in NY provides golden nematode screening for the eastern programs.  ME screens all NE1731 entries for scab, potato virus Y, and potato leafroll virus resistance.  Fifty-eight advanced breeding clones in the ME program showed high levels of late blight resistance in PA trials during 2017.  Two of 18 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant to late blight in 2017 PA trials.  Three of 18 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant to early blight in 2017 PA trials.  Six of 15 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant or resistant to common scab in 2017 ME trials.  Marker-assisted selection is being used to speed the development of PVY and golden nematode resistant varieties. All NY round whites, and most of the NY colored crosses, segregate for resistance to golden nematode Ro1 or Ro2, as do many crosses from the ME, NC and USDA programs.

Provide timely and relevant information to stakeholders through various means including the maintenance of a project website and a web-based potato variety performance database for use by researchers, extension, potato growers, and allied industry members.

Results from this project have been made available through field days, trade show booths, printed materials, and presentations (scientific meetings and stakeholder meetings).  Results from the project are also made available through our project web site at http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/NE.html.  Our project web site and interactive searchable database, which is updated regularly, (see: http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/NE.html) continues to grow in importance and popularity.  Evidence of its importance is the fact that it has been used as a model for other regional and national projects (e.g.  the USDA-NIFA SCRI potato acrylamide mitigation project and the USPB national chip trials). The web site provides current contact information for project cooperators and recent research reports, as well as access to our regional variety database and a dynamic summary generator for all released varieties. The interactive database has become popular as a tool used by researchers and stakeholders, and it can be viewed at < http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/nesrch.php>.  The summary generator allows users to build a cultivar summary that contains the most up-to-date performance data in a concise one-page format <http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/nesummary.php>.

Short-term Outcomes:

1. Eastern potato growers need new potato varieties which are highly productive and less susceptible to stress, diseases, and insects than current varieties. This regional potato breeding and trial network produces new potato varieties and evaluates their potential to serve fresh, processing, and specialty potato markets in the East.  These new varieties will improve grower profitability by increasing yields, enhancing market quality, and/or decreasing costs associated with pests.   Farm gate receipts for eastern potato production exceed 460 million dollars annually, therefore the impact of a successful new potato cultivar can mean many millions of dollars to the industry over time. Potatoes can cost more than $2500 per acre to produce and devastating diseases such as pink rot and/or late blight can totally destroy the crop.  Resistant varieties greatly decrease the risk of losses and, in the case of late blight resistance, can reduce production costs by reducing the number of chemical sprays applied to protect the crop from the pest.  Several areas in NY could not produce potatoes without the golden nematode resistant varieties developed as part of this and other research projects. 

2. Over the years, the eastern regional project has resulted in the release of many commercially important potato varieties (e.g. Atlantic, Andover, Harley Blackwell, Kanona, Keuka Gold, MaineStay, Marcy, Monticello, Pike, and Sunrise). Upstate Abundance, a white-skinned variety form Cornell with small attractive tubers for the specialty trade, Peter Wilcox, a purple-skinned yellow-fleshed specialty variety from the USDA-ARS program, Little Ruby, a red-skinned, yellow-fleshed variety from USDA-ARS, Algonquin, a round-white with large attractive tubers, and Lehigh, a yellow-fleshed dual-purpose variety from NY, are five of the more recent fresh market releases from the eastern programs.  Lamoka (NY139), Waneta (NY138), and Red Maria (NY129) are three 2010-2011 Cornell releases that have attracted considerable commercial interest.  Caribou Russet (AF3362-1) was released in 2015 by ME and is increasingly being adopted for French fry production and for the russet fresh market trade. Potato seed multiplication and commercial adoption are slow processes; therefore, so it will take years to know the full impacts of these varieties on eastern potato production.  For chipping markets, NY’s two most recent chipping releases are Waneta (NY138) and Lamoka (NY139). Based on certified seed acreage in 2016 and 2017, Lamoka (2702 acres in 2017) has replaced Snowden (1817 acres) as the standard storage chipping variety across the U.S.  Waneta has also been widely adopted (1025 acres of seed in 2017).  We estimate that the annual value of potato chip production from Lamoka and Waneta for 2017 and 2018 will be approximately one billion dollars (~15% of US chip production).  Sixteen clones from the eastern states have been in the Potatoes USA fast-track chip program since 2011, and the programs supported under this grant have annually contributed up to 40% of clones in the Potatoes USA National Chip Processors Trials (NCPT).

3. Recent Eastern releases were grown on 2,876 ME and NY seed acres during 2017 with a seed value of ca. $8.6M. The resulting seed crop has the potential to plant 28,767 acres in 2018 with a ware value estimated at $86.3M.  Nationally, varieties produced by our long-term project were grown on 5,808 seed acres during 2017 with an approximate seed value of $17.4M.  The resulting seed crop has the potential to plant 58,088 acres in 2018 with a ware value estimated at $174.3M.  Several varieties developed though our collective efforts are currently in the top 50 U.S. varieties including (acres, rank): Lamoka (2702, 10), Waneta (1025, 19), Lehigh (364, 41), Caribou Russet (347, 42), and Pike (271, 45).  Several additional varieties developed by this program are in the top 100 of US potato varieties: Keuka Gold (161 acres), (Reba (128 acres), NY115 (128 acres), Eva (125 acres), and Andover (94 acres).  Lamoka, a Cornell release developed via a predecessor project to NE1731, replaced Snowden as the top storage chipping variety in the US during 2016 and held that position again in 2017.  Atlantic, released in 1971 by USDA-ARS Beltsville and selected by a predecessor of this project, remains the top publically-released, out-of-field chip potato variety in the US (2761 acres, ranks 9^th in US). 

4. The project places special emphasis on breeding and selecting clones with resistance to late blight, early blight, scab, golden nematode races Ro1 and Ro2, and potato virus Y (PVY). Fifty-eight advanced breeding clones in the ME program showed high levels of late blight resistance during 2017. Three of 18 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant to late blight in 2017 PA trials.  Three of 18 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant to early blight in 2017 PA trials.  Six of 15 advanced eastern clones were moderately resistant or resistant to common scab in 2017 ME trials.  Marker-assisted selection is being used to speed the development of PVY and golden nematode resistant varieties. All NY round whites, and most of the NY colored crosses, segregate for resistance to golden nematode Ro1 or Ro2, as do many crosses from the ME, NC and USDA programs. Upstate Abundance (formerly NY150), released by Cornell in 2017, has resistance to late blight, common scab, potato virus Y, and golden nematode.  AF4648-2, a promising white-skinned variety that is being commercially evaluated has resistance to scab, late blight, PVY, pink rot, and golden nematode.  Disease resistant varieties generated by this project have the potential to greatly reduce growers’ losses to devastating diseases such as late blight and can also reduce production costs. Golden nematode, a serious pest found in NY and in other countries, cannot be effectively managed without resistant varieties.

5. Our project web site and searchable database continues to grow in size and utility (http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/NE.html). The web site provides current contact information for project cooperators and recent research reports, as well as access to our regional variety database and a dynamic summary generator for all released varieties. The interactive database can be viewed at <http://potatoes.ncsu.edu/nesrch.php>.

Outputs:

1. Cultivars released this year:

Two potato varieties were officially released in 2017.  In addition, commercialization of our recent releases continued as is summarized above.  Research trials and commercial evaluation of many advanced clones from our programs continued throughout 2017. 

Algonquin (tested as NY141) was released by Cornell University during 2017.  Algonquin is being grown for fresh market and is a white skinned, white fleshed variety.  It has high yields and good tuber appearance as well as resistance to common scab and golden nematode. 

Upstate Abundance (tested as NY150) was released by Cornell University during 2017. Upstate Abundance is a specialty white with very small, bright tubers. It has potato virus Y (PVY), late blight, and golden nematode resistance as well as moderate common scab tolerance. It is being commercialized by specialty fresh market growers. 

Publications (peer-reviewed journals):

Christensen, C.T., L. Zotarelli, K.G. Haynes, and J. Colee.  2017.  Rooting characteristics of Solanum chacoense and Solanum tuberosum in Vitro.  Amer. J. Potato Res.  94: 588-598. 

Da Silva, W.L., J. Ingram, C.A. Hackett, J.J. Coombs, D. Douches, G.J. Bryan, W. De Jong, and S. Gray.  2017 Mapping Loci that Control Tuber and Foliar Symptoms caused by PVY in Autotetraploid Potato (Solanum tuberosum L). G3 7, 3587-3595.  https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.117.300264

De Jong, W.S., D.E. Halseth, R.L. Plaisted, X. Wang, K.L. Perry, K.M. Paddock, M. Falise, B.J. Christ, and G.A. Porter.  2017. Lamoka, a variety with excellent chip color out of cold storage and resistance to the golden cyst nematode.   American Journal of Potato Research 94: 148-152.

Endelman, J.B., C.A. Schmitz Carley, D.S. Douches, J.J. Coombs, B. Bizimungu, W.S. De Jong, K.G. Haynes, D.G. Holm, J.C. Miller, R.G. Novy, J.P. Palta, D.L. Parish, G.A. Porter, V.R. Sathuvalli, A.L. Thompson, and G. C. Yencho.  2017. Pedigree reconstruction with genome-wide markers in potato. American Journal of Potato Research DOI 10.1007/s12230-016-9556-y.

Wang, Y., L.B. Snodgrass, P.C. Bethke, A.J. Bussan, D.G. Holm, R.G. Novy, M.J. Pavek, G.A. Porter, C.J. Rosen, V.R. Sathuvalli, A.L. Thompson, M.T. Thornton and J.B. Endelman.  2017.  Reliability of measurement and genotype x environment interaction for potato specific gravity.  Crop Sci  DOI: 10.2135cropsci2016.12.0976.

Qu X.S., Peck M.W., Moore C.E., Christ B.J.  2017.  Evaluation of foliar fungicides for control of potato late blight in Pennsylvania, 2016.  Plant Disease Management Reports 11: V008.

Qu X.S., Peck M.W., Moore C.E., Christ B.J.  2017.  Field evaluation of potato cultivars and breeding lines for resistance to powdery scab in Pennsylvania, 2016.  Plant Disease Management Reports 11: V035.

Qu X.S., Peck M.W., Moore C.E., Christ B.J..  2017.  Field evaluation of potato cultivars and breeding lines for resistance to late blight in Pennsylvania, 2016.  Plant Disease Management Reports 11: V036.

Qu X.S., Peck M.W., Moore C.E., Christ B.J.  2017.  Field evaluation of potato cultivars and breeding lines for resistance to early blight in Pennsylvania, 2016.  Plant Disease Management Reports 11: V037.

Simko, I. and K.G. Haynes.  2017.  Maturity-adjusted resistance of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars to Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae.  Amer. J. Potato Res.  94:173-177.

Published Abstracts:

Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, and T. Mills.  2017.  Caribou Russet: A new russet potato variety for fresh market and fry processing.   American Journal of Potato Research 94:239 (abst).

Porter, G.A. and P. Ocaya.  2017.  Processing quality of advanced fry processing varieties versus Russet Burbank in SCRI agronomic trials, Maine 2013-2015.  American Journal of Potato Research 94:240 (abst).

Technical Articles or Reports, not refereed

Arancibia, R. 2017. Virginia Potato Variety Trial Report - 2017. 

Arancibia, R.A. 2017. Potato. In Wyenandt (Coordinator), Elsa Sanchez (Hort. Ed.), 2016-2017 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations (2017 revision). VCE publication 456-420 (AREC-203P) http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-420/456-420.html

De Jong, W.S., R. Plaisted, D.E. Halseth, and S. Menasha. 2017. New York Potato Variety Trial and Breeding Report - 2017, 40 pp.

Kleinhenz, M.D., S.D. Walker, B. Williams, and Walter.  2017. Ohio Potato Germplasm Evaluation Report - 2017, 88 pp. Ohio State University Horticulture and Crop Series Series N. 856.  Also available at https://potatoes.ncsu.edu/NEReports.html

Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, B. MacFarline, and B. Plummer.  2017.  Potato variety trial results in Maine, 2017 growing season.   SFA Research Report (posted on www and distributed to industry), 2017-01, 40 pp. Also available at https://potatoes.ncsu.edu/NEReports.html

Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, and T. Mills.  2017.   Maine potato breeding program annual report, 2017 growing season.   SFA Research Report (posted on www and distributed to industry), 20 pp. 

Qu, X. and B.J. Christ.  2017. Pennsylvania Potato Research Report- 2017, 55 pp (posted on www and distributed to industry). Also available at https://potatoes.ncsu.edu/NEReports.html

Yencho, G.C. and M.E. Clough. 2017. NC Potato Variety Trial and Breeding Report - 2017, 50 pp. Also available at https://potatoes.ncsu.edu

Zotarelli, L. 2017. Florida Potato Variety Trial Report - 2017, 122 pp. Also available at http://hos.ufl.edu/extension/variety-trials/variety-trial-crops/potatoes