Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Project Accomplishments:
This multidisciplinary, regional project utilizes the potato breeding and variety development expertise in the eastern US to breed, select, and develop new potato varieties for growers at all scales of production. 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 Southeastern US, which will contribute to a more sustainable and profitable potato industry.

Even after a variety has been released, it can take many years until it becomes clear how well the variety has met industry needs. Looking back at varieties released by this project over the past ten years, the following have had an especially significant impact (ranking among the top 100 potato varieties grown in the U.S. in 2025 based on certified seed acreage). Caribou Russet, released by ME in 2015 for fry processing and russet fresh market, has been rapidly adopted due to high yields, scab and verticillium resistance, and excellent consumer quality. Certified seed acreage rose to 2,203 acres, making it the 11th most widely grown variety in 2025. Hamlin Russet was released by ME in 2021 for early fry processing and russet fresh market and is moderately resistant to common scab; seed acreage in 2025 rose to 641 acres (ranks 26th in the US). Lady Liberty, a chipping variety released by NY in 2018, is resistant to the golden nematode and PVY; at 727 acres of seed, it ranked 25th in 2025. Bliss, another NY chipping variety, was released in early 2023 and currently ranks 48th (295 acres of seed). The NY-released Lamoka is now the 8th most planted variety, with 3,974 acres in 2025. On the east coast, potato varieties released by the NE2231 group were grown on 3,481 seed acres in Maine and New York during 2025, with a seed potato value of approximately $10.74 million. This seed crop has the potential to plant 30,579 acres in 2026, with a ware value estimated at $99.4 million.

The NE2231 project and its predecessors have: 1) allowed potato breeders to share breeding materials and trial results; 2) facilitated potato germplasm selection and evaluation under diverse environmental conditions 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, late blight, and common scab resistance in PA; scab and virus resistance in ME; nematode resistance in NY); 5) developed variety profiles and cultural recommendations for potato selections that enter commercial production; and 6) resulted in the release and adoption of many important US potato cultivars.

Potato breeding for improved quality, stress tolerance, and pest resistance was conducted in FL, ME, NY, and NC in 2025. During the year, our programs collectively generated 537 new tetraploid families (246, 073 seeds) from crosses using parents with desirable quality, utilization, adaptation, and/or pest resistance traits. Progeny (106,614) from earlier crosses were field-selected, resulting in 2,923 clones that will be further evaluated during 2026 under conditions with diverse abiotic and biotic stress in the eastern U.S. and beyond. Our breeding programs focus on specific pest, climatic stress, and marketing issues, so that regional resources are used efficiently. For example, ME is the only breeding program in the region that focuses on russets and long whites for processing. In terms of pests and diseases, ME emphasizes research on late blight, pink rot, potato virus Y (PVY), soft rot, and scab resistance. NY focuses on white-skinned chipping crosses but also selects fresh-market clones of varying skin and flesh colors and emphasizes resistance to golden nematode, scab, and PVY, but also crosses for late blight, and white cyst nematode.

Our potato breeding programs are focused on developing plant materials with greater resilience to heat stress and climate change, with our NC and FL programs particularly suited to developing heat-stress-tolerant germplasm. NC’s potato breeding program focuses on heat-stress tolerance, PVY resistance, and resistance to internal heat necrosis. For the fresh market, NC’s priority is to find a replacement for Dark Red Norland because of its low yield and variable skin color in stressful SE environments. During 2021, FL initiated a new potato breeding program that will further strengthen our region’s efforts to create heat-tolerant potato germplasm with adaptation to the SE. In 2025, 44 FL crosses resulted in 15,620 true seeds for future selection and variety development. FL evaluated 11,675 first-year clones during 2025, selecting 278 for continued evaluation in 2026.

Disease screening is a key part of our project and essential to developing new potato varieties. The disease-resistant varieties developed through this work could significantly reduce growers’ losses from severe diseases, including common scab, early and late blight, pink rot, and PVY. They can also help reduce the use of agricultural chemicals and lower production costs. In 2025, screening trials in Pennsylvania evaluated our NE2231 and advanced breeding clones for resistance to early blight (38 clones) and common scab (38 clones). Unfortunately, despite field inoculation during the 2025 season, the late blight nursery showed no symptoms, primarily due to environmental conditions. NY, NC, and ME (192 clones) all made extensive use of molecular markers in 2025 to increase the frequency of PVY resistance in their programs.
Field trials were conducted from ME to FL to help select promising potato clones worthy of commercialization. Advanced clones from our project were introduced to growers through field days, presentations, publications, websites, and direct contact with stakeholders. Nine advanced clones were entered into tissue culture programs during 2025, leading to commercial seed production for continued research and development. Several advanced clones and newly released varieties are currently being evaluated in on-farm commercial-scale trials for their potential use across the US.

Each eastern breeding program submits its most promising advanced clones to the NE2231 regional project’s seed nursery in Maine, where a clean seed stock of certified seed is produced and distributed to all cooperators. During 2025, the project distributed seed potatoes for 11 regional potato variety trials conducted in seven states and two Canadian provinces. Eleven standard varieties and 27 experimental clones were tested for yield, tuber quality, and pest resistance. All trials were grown using standard commercial cultural practices. Marketable yield, tuber quality and appearance, maturity, storage life and processing potential were evaluated and compared to commercial standards. The diverse environmental conditions present in the eastern U.S. allow us to quickly screen potato clones for stress sensitivity as well as for adaptation and suitability to specific growing areas and markets. Multi-site evaluation of early-generation clones speeds the breeding and selection process and enables us to identify both broadly- and specifically-adapted clones that will be useful to the U.S. potato industry and potato growers at all scales of production. During the 2026 20 experimental clones and 11 commercial varieties were distributed for 11 regional potato variety trials, we will continue this important regional trial, which is essential for identifying clones with the greatest potential to advance to larger commercial trials. Each regional trial site reports results to its local stakeholders and submits its data to the project website coordinator in NC.
Our project web site and searchable database continue to grow in size and utility. The database has now migrated to the more powerful and user-friendly Variety Data Management (VDM) platform (https://neproject.medius.re/). The web site provides current contact information for project cooperators and recent research reports, as well as access to our searchable regional variety database and a dynamic summary generator for all released varieties. This new database can provide side-by-side comparative data for potato clones and varieties as well as advanced analytical tools. It is a valuable tool for researchers, Extension, and stakeholders.

New varieties and descriptions.
Red Port (NDAF113484B-1) (ND060570B-1R x ND8555-8R), recently released by the UMaine breeding program (pending PVP), is an attractive, mid-season, red with bright skin that holds its color well in storage. It has white flesh and mid-season maturity, with moderate resistance to scab, shatter, and black spot. Tuber size and yields are similar to those of Dark Red Norland; however, it has fewer external defects than Dark Red Norland. It has had a low incidence of hollow heart but has had internal heat necrosis in southern and mid-Atlantic trials.
Advanced Experimental Potato Clones Showing Particular Promise in 2025 include:
BNC917-2 (BNC203-3 x Super Red Norland) - a medium-early maturing purple, high-yielding, good tuber appearance, smooth red skin, and yellow flesh. Oblong tuber shape. It has moderate shatter resistance and is moderately susceptible to shatter.
AF6340-6 (Caribou russet x Russet Norkotah) - fresh russet, long tubers, medium maturity, very high yields, moderate to low gravity, fair tuber appearance, low presence of external defects, resistance to blackspot, and moderate resistance to shatter.
AAF15180-3 (A07547-4VR x AF4320-7) – processing russet, medium-late maturity with long tubers and high yields for processing with excellent fry color and fair CSWR, medium-size profile, good blackspot tolerance and moderate shatter tolerance; PVY resistance (Ryadg) (graduate from NFPT Potatoes USA).
AAF15086-5 (AF4320-7 x Mountain GemRusset) – dual-purpose russet, medium maturity with long blocky tubers and high yields, good fry color, large-medium-size profile, good shatter tolerance; high specific gravity, good tuber appearance, and low hollow heart incidence (graduate from NFPT Potatoes USA).
AF6377-10 (A03921-2 x GemStar Russet) - dual-purpose russet, long tubers, medium-late maturity, very high yields, moderate gravity, good tuber appearance, good fry color and uniformity, PVY resistance, and moderate resistance to shatter. Concerns about this clone are the presence of hollow heart in some trials.
AF5819-2 (Dakota Crisp x AF4552-5) - Medium-maturing fresh market clone with bright skin, round tubers, high yields, low specific gravity, moderate scab resistance, medium-sized tubers, and good internal quality. Moderate scab, pink rot, softrot, and shatter resistance.
AF6206-5 (AF4386-16 x Lamoka) – Medium-maturing, high yields, high specific gravity, netted skin with a fair appearance, low external defects, moderate resistance to common scab, shatter bruise, and blackspot. Good fry color out of field and out of storage, with low incidence of defects. It performed well in the SNAC (Potatoes USA) national trial in 2025.
AF6565-8 (WAF10131-19 x MSR127-2) - round, slightly netted skin, high yield, high specific gravity, good fry color, and moderate to scab and PVY resistance. Good performance at the SNAC (Potatoes USA) national trial in 2025.
NC470-3 (Marcy X NC182-5) – Selected in 2012 this chipping clone is for fresh out of field chipping. Vines tend to be vigorous, mature late, show little to no ozone damage, exhibit resistance to early blight, and have an upright to spreading growth habit. Tubers are mostly oblong, medium to large in size, with brown netted skin, yields have averaged 106% of Atlantic, gravities are +/- 4 points of Atlantic and do not express internal heat necrosis. Hollow heart incidence is similar to Atlantic at 2% across all yield trials. This clone is also resistant to PVY (Ryadg marker) and has some tolerance to common scab and moderate resistance to late blight. Has been in NCPT trials and entering SNAC trials in 2024.
NC821-30 (NC41-1 X NC182-5) – Selected in 2015 this chipping clone is for fresh out of field chipping. Vines are vigorous and late maturing with a spreading growth habit. Tubers are mostly round, medium in size with very few if any oversize. Skins are tan and moderately smooth. Yields have averaged 91% of Atlantic gravities are + 4 to 6 points higher than Atlantic and do not express internal heat necrosis. Hollow heart and brown center incidence is less than Atlantic across all yield trials. This clone is also resistant to PVY (Ryadg marker), Golden nematode (H1 marker) and has some tolerance to early blight and late blight. Has been in EGSS, NCPT and is preparing for entry into SNAC in the coming seasons.
NY165 (NY148 x F48-4) is a mid-season, moderate to high specific gravity, chip stock clone. It has round to oblong tubers with slightly netted skin. Yields have been high in many NY trials; however, specific gravity may not be high enough for commercialization outside the northeast. Chip color from storage is very good. It has moderate scab resistance and is resistant to golden nematode (Ro1) and PVY.
NY174 (NY148 x E48-2) is a full-season, moderate to high specific gravity, chip stock clone. It has round to oblong tubers with slightly netted skin. Yields have been high in many NY trials averaging 122% of Atlantic (11 trials). Low levels of internal and external defects have been observed to date. Chip color from storage is very good. It has moderate scab resistance and is resistant to golden nematode (Ro1) and PVY.
NY177 (NY148 x E48-2) is a mid- to late-season, high specific gravity, chip stock clone. It has round to oblong tubers with slightly netted skin. Yields have been high in many NY trials averaging 115% of Atlantic (14 trials). Low levels of internal and external defects have been observed to date. Chip color from storage is very good. It has moderate scab resistance and is resistant to golden nematode (Ro1) and PVY.

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 gates receipts for Eastern potatoes exceed $460M per year. Potatoes can cost more than $3000 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 and plant viruses, can reduce production costs by reducing the number of chemical sprays applied to protect the crop. Several areas in NY could not produce potatoes without the golden nematode resistant varieties developed as part of this and other research projects. Potato virus Y (PVY) has become increasingly difficult to control and seed producers have lost millions of dollars to this pest in recent years. All of our breeding programs develop new plant materials with resistance or tolerance to one or more of these important plant pests. As noted above, several of our advanced selections that are in or heading toward commercialization trials are resistant to one or more important pests. Internal heat necrosis (IHN) is a common stress-related defect in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S. While several of our trial sites help our programs screen for this defect, NC provides an excellent screening site for selecting more stress-tolerate potato varieties. In 2025 NC screened 284 clones from other eastern potato breeding programs to assess heat tolerance and adaptation to the southeast.

2. Genomic selection holds much promise to accelerate breeding progress. NC phenotyped and genotyped (with assistance from FL) 600 second year clones to generate breeding values for specific gravity and marketable yield; this data was used to inform selection of third year clones. During the 2025 season, ME genotyped another 192 third year clones, bringing their total training population up to 1,150 genotyped and phenotyped clones. FL genotyped a population that includes the chipping and fresh market parents of their nascent breeding program at 22,000 SNP loci using the Flex-Seq platform. Preliminary training of their genomic selection models resulted in prediction accuracies of 0.58 for marketable yield and 0.44 for specific gravity.

3. Field trials were conducted from ME to FL to help select promising potato clones that are worthy of commercialization. Advanced clones from our project were introduced to growers through field days, presentations, publications, web sites, and direct contact with stakeholders. Over the years, the eastern regional project has resulted in the release of many commercially important potato varieties. Just in the past decade our releases include the following ‘top 100’ cultivars: Caribou Russet, released by ME in 2015 for fry processing and russet fresh market, was the 11th most widely grown variety in 2025 for seed production; Lady Liberty, a chipping variety released by NY in 2018, ranked 25th in 2025; Hamlin Russet, released by ME during 2021 for early fry processing and russet fresh market, currently ranks 26th; Bliss, another NY chipping variety, was released in early 2023 and currently ranks 48th. Older and still widely grown varieties developed by this project include: Lamoka, the most widely grown cold-storage chipping variety in the US (released by NY in 2011; ranks 8th); Waneta, another NY cold-storage processing variety (released in 2011, ranks 13th); Lehigh, a yellow fleshed cultivar (released by NY in 2007, ranks 46th). Historical potato seed acreage data is available at https://potatoassociation.org/seed-acres-reports/

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 PVY. Advanced clones and recent variety releases from our programs typically have resistance to several important potato pests and/or physiological disorders. As an example, Caribou Russet has resistance to verticillium wilt, common scab, soft rot, and powdery scab as well as excellent bruise resistance. Cornell releases typically have golden nematode resistance and scab tolerance, plus many recent releases also have resistance to PVY and late blight. Brodie (NY140) was released during 2018 and is the first U.S. cultivar with resistance to golden nematode race Ro2 and it is also resistant to race Ro1. Ro1 is the long-time golden nematode pest in NY, while Ro2 is a newer race that has become increasingly difficult to manage. Golden nematode cannot be effectively managed without resistant varieties. Marker-assisted selection for PVY and golden nematode resistance is now an integral part of our breeding programs. Disease screening trials in PA, evaluated varieties and advanced breeding clones for early blight, late blight, and common scab resistance. ME also conducts screening studies for susceptibility to important potato diseases (e.g. verticillium wilt, common scab, soft rot, pink rot, PVY, etc.). NY screens all of its advanced clones for common scab (field screening) and golden nematode (bioassay) resistance. These data are used to select resistant varieties/breeding clones. 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.

5. Our project web site and searchable database continues to grow in size and utility. The database has now migrated to the more powerful, user-friendly Variety Data Management (VDM) platform (https://neproject.medius.re/). The web site provides current contact information for project cooperators and recent research reports, as well as access to our searchable regional variety database and a dynamic summary generator for all released varieties. This new database can provide side-by-side comparative data for potato clones and varieties as well as advanced analytical tools which help stakeholders and researchers determine which advanced clones are worthy of commercialization trials.

Outputs:
Cultivars released this year:
Red Port (NDAF113484B-1) (ND060570B-1R x ND8555-8R), recently released by the UMaine breeding program (pending PVP), is an attractive, mid-season, red with bright skin that holds its color well in storage. It has white flesh and mid-season maturity, with moderate resistance to scab, shatter, and black spot. Tuber size and yields are similar to those of Dark Red Norland; however, it has fewer external defects than Dark Red Norland. It has had a low incidence of hollow heart but has had internal heat necrosis in southern and mid-Atlantic trials.