Florida (University of Florida; Chad Hutchinson)

Thirty-two varieties and clones were evaluated at the University of Florida’s Hastings REC in Hastings, FL for the NE-184 Northeast Regional Potato Variety Trial Project.

In the round white potato class (25 entries), only NY 112 (417 cwt/A) had a higher total yield than Atlantic (409 cwt/acre). No variety or clone had a higher marketable yield than Atlantic or NY 112 (395 cwt/A).

Varieties and clones in the round white potato class with an appearance score of 7.0 or greater were Aquilon, Envol, AF1775-2, AF1938-3, NY 102, W1242, and W1313.

Varieties and clones in the round white potato class with specific gravities equal to or greater than Atlantic (1.080) were Aquilon (1.080), B1425-9 (1.082), and W1313.

In the russet potato class (5 entries), only AF1753-16 (409 cwt/A) had a higher yield than Russet Norkotah #3117 (341 cwt/A). AF1753-16 had the highest marketable yield (361 cwt/A).

Gem Russet, Russet Burbank, and AF1753-16 had the highest appearance scores of the entries in the russet class at 6.0.

AF1753-16 had the highest specific gravity of the entries in the russet class of 1.068.

Chieftan and Dark Red Norland were evaluated in the red potato class. They had a total yield of 294 and 283 cwt/A, respectively. Of the two, Dark Red Norland had the better appearance rating of 7.0.

Based on this trial, Aquilon, Envol, NY 112, NY 102, and AF1753-16 may have potential in Florida’s table stock market and B1425-9 and W1313 may have potential in the chip market.

Maine (University of Maine; Greg Porter)

Forty-one NE184 potato varieties and clones were tested in Maine. Additional trials of advanced breeding lines were also conducted.

Eva, Keuka Gold, AF1615-1, AF1758-7 were promising NE184 fresh market, round-whites. B1409-2 was promising as a fresh market russet. B0766-3, NY102, NY115, W1201, B1240-1 and NY112 were NE184 lines that showed good chipping potential. A90586-11 and AF1753-16 showed promise for french fry processing.

Several advanced breeding lines showed good potential in the following marketing categories: fresh market, whites (AF1921-4 and SC8801-2); chipping (B1591-1, B1709-6, B1826-1, and B1884-9); french fry processing (AF1808-18, AF1866-8, AF2061-2); fresh market russet (B1649-8); specialty reds (B1523-4, B1758-3, B1758-4) and specialty purples (B1763-4).

Based on storage tests from the 2000 crop, Gem Russet and W1348Rus can produce french fries with quality equal to Russet Burbank. Chip colors from storage were particularly good for B0766-3, NY102, NY115, and W1242. Eva, Gem Russet, Russet Norkotah #3, Russet Norkotah #8, A84118-3, and A84180-8 were NE184 test clones with low weight loss from 50F storage. Seven NE184 lines were evaluated for boiled quality and only two (Eva and NY102) were judged acceptable. Of the seven, AF1753-16 was judged better than the standard for baked quality, while AF1437-1 was judged poorer. The remaining five were equal to standards.

Eva, AF1753-16, AF1758-7, B0766-3, B1240-1, B1523-4, NY102, and NY115 are NE184 clones that were commercially tested in Maine during 2001.

New Jersey (Rutgers University; Mel Henninger)

Trials were conducted at the Rutgers Agricultural Research & Extension Center(RAREC) in Upper Deerfield Township and The Snyder Research & Extension Farm near Pittstown. A total of 20 round white, 4 red and 6 russet varieties and seedlings were tested.

In 2001, the growing conditions were good with cool nights and warm sunny days. At RAREC conditions became less favorable during late June and July, and growth and tuber bulking were reduced. Ozone levels were high in June and July at both locations, and some varieties were damaged. Insects and diseases were not a limiting factor.

At the RAREC, only NY112 yielded significantly better than Superior with marketable yield of 453 cwt/A. This was the highest yield entry for two years. Other good yielding entries were AF1615-1, AF1938-3, and Aquilon. Atlantic had the highest specific gravity with 1.092, but B1424-9, AF1775-2, B1240-1, and Aquilon had gravities that were not signficantly lower. The entries with the best chip color were B0766-3 and AF1938-3. In 2001, internal heat necrosis was severe. Atlantic had 31 tubers out of 40 tested with severe necrosis. Seven entries had no heat necrosis. NY112 and B1240-1 had very attractive tubers.

Overall NY112 produced nice tubers and good yield.

At the Snyder Farm, no entry yielded higher or have a higher specific gravity than Atlantic with 521 cwt/A and 1.087. While internal heat necrosis was not a problem, Atlantic had 16 hollow tuber out of 40 tested. Eva yielded good and produced very attractive tubers. Kennebec had the highest total yield, but had 25% culls, mostly second growth and growth crachs.

Reds: CO86218-2 yielded 480 cwt/A which was significantly higher than Dark Red Norland with 370 cwt/A marketable. CO8621-2 has large tough stems which may hinder mechanical harvest, if vines are not completely dead. Chieftain yielded the highest with 508 cwt/A, but is susceptible to internal heat necrosis. Yukon Gold had 24 hollow heart tubers, out of 40 tested.

Russets: B1409-2 and A90586-11 yielded the highest marketable yield with 521 and 409 cwt/A. Hollow heart was a problem with A90586-11, Russet Burbank, Gem Russet, and Russet Norkotah. AF1753-16 and Russet Burbank had the best total yield, but had the highest percent culls with 45 and 28 percent, respectively. Most of the culls were second growth and misshapened tubers.

New York (Cornell University; Don Halseth)

Nineteen advanced breeding lines were evaluated against 10 NE‑184 "standards" in Upstate New York (Freeville) in 2001.

The early line AF1763‑2 had the highest early marketable yield at 377 cwt/a, representing yield 41% above the early standard Superior.

Envol was by far the earliest maturing line in the early trial, vine dead in mid‑August, yet still yielded 7% above Superior.

Eva had the best round white tuber appearance while CO86218‑2 has the best red‑skinned appearance.

NY112 had the highest marketable yield of all entries at 510 cwt/acre, which was a yield level 46% higher than the standard Atlantic.

Russet Burbank had the highest total yield (499 cwt/a) for the russets, but again it also had the highest amount of external defects (39.3%) and hence the lowest marketable yield (174 cwt/a).

B1409‑2 had the highest marketable yield (308 cwt/a) for a russet but Russet Legend had the best russet appearance.

AF1763‑2 had the lowest specific gravity (1.063) while W1313 and B1425‑9 had the highest specific gravity (1.092).

Best chip color from 40F storage in 2000 was obtained by NY112, NY115, Snowden, W1242 and W1313.

North Carolina (North Carolina State University; Craig Yencho)

Twenty‑five round white and three red clones were evaluated at the NCSU VGJREC/NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Tidewater Research Station in Plymouth, NC for the NE‑184 Northeast Regional Potato Variety Trials Project.

In the round‑white trial, Keuka Gold (319 cwt/A), Snowden (305 cwt/A), NY112 (298 cwt/A), AF1569‑2 (279 cwt/A), and Aquilon (264 cwt/A) had marketable yields greater than Atlantic (262 cwt/A). However, only three (Keuka Gold, Snowden and NY112) had significantly (p=0.05) greater marketable yields.

Clones in the round‑white trial with overall appearance scores of good (7) or better were: Keuka Gold (8); NY112 (8); AF1569‑2 (7); Eva (7); and Yukon Gold (7).

Seven clones [Aquilon (55%); AF1758‑7 (45%); Yukon Gold (25%); Atlantic (23%); Shepody (13%); Kennebec (10%); and Snowden (10%)] had 10% or greater expression of IHN. Atlantic and W1313 had a high incidence of hollow heart.

Clones with specific gravity readings equal to or better than Atlantic were: B0766‑3; B1240‑1; B1425‑9; Keuka Gold; Snowden; and W1313

AF1455‑20, AF1569‑2, AF1763‑2, AF1938‑3, and B1240‑1 had excellent chip scores.

Three clones were evaluated in the 2001 NE‑184 Red Trial. Chieftain, the standard, had a marketable yield of 231 cwt/A the other two clones had lower yields, and none were very attractive.

Based on these trials, B0766‑3, B1240‑1, W1242, and W1313 may have potential in North Carolina as chip stock, while AF1569‑2, Eva, Keuka Gold and NY112 may have potential in North Carolina’s table stock market.

Ohio (The Ohio State University; Matt Kleinhenz)

Twenty-two advanced breeding lines were evaluated against six NE184 standards in Wooster, OH in 2001. Experimental genotypes were contributed by breeding programs in Maine (ME), New York (NY), and the USDA-ARS (ARS) in Beltsville, MD. In addition, a total of 85 named varieties and experimental selections from the same and other breeding programs were evaluated in related studies.

Four, sixteen, and eight entries were rated as early-, mid-, and late-maturing respectively. Total and U.S. Number 1 yield averaged 223 and 148 cwt/A, respectively (range of 77-339 cwt/A for total yield and 34-259 cwt/A for marketable yield). Eight advanced breeding lines were rated as producing tubers with good-excellent overall external appearance. Thirteen advanced breeding lines were rated as having very high chip quality. Consumer-oriented aspects of cooking quality have also been assessed in six entries from the NE184 project and six entries from related projects using consumer panels (data summarization in process).

Impact

Identified five advanced breeding lines that warrant additional scientific or commercial evaluation, based on yield, appearance, processing and/or cooking quality.

Selection of suitable varieties contributes to increased grower return and industry stability. Approximately seventy percent of Ohio’s annual potato crop is planted to varieties first introduced and evaluated as numbered entries in these studies. Information from 2001 will be used in future variety selection in Ohio.

Information from 2001 also provided breeders with information on the inheritance of specific traits and narrow versus broad adaptation of individual clones.

Publications

Kleinhenz, M.D., D.M. Kelly, E.C. Wittmeyer, B. Schult, D.R. Miskell, J.Y. Elliott, W.D. Bash, and R.J. Keller. 2001. Report of results from the 2000 Ohio potato germplasm evaluations, the North-central (NCR84) and Northeast (NE184) Regional Projects Cooperating, The OSU Horticulture and Crop Science Series No. 706, Jan. 2001. 53 pp.

Kleinhenz, M.D., E.C. Wittmeyer, Mark A. Bennett, and Richard L. Hassell. 2001. Variety selection for resistance to abiotic stresses, a summary of Ohio’s involvement in the North-central and Northeast Regional Genetics and Breeding Projects. Potato Association of America Annual Meetings, 2001. Amer Jour Potato Res. In press.

Kleinhenz, M.D., W.D. Bash, J.Y. Elliott, D.M. Kelly, B.Schult, G.W. Wenneker, and E.C. Wittmeyer. 2001. Ohio. In: National potato germplasm evaluation and enhancement report, 1999, seventieth annual report by cooperators. USDA-ARS, ARS-158. K.G. Haynes (ed.). pp. 253-266.

Kleinhenz, M.D., E.C. Wittmeyer, and D.M. Kelly. 2001. Identification of potato varieties adapted to Ohio conditions – An update on research at The OSU-OARDC in 2000. Ohio Fruit and Vegetable Growers Congress and Ohio Roadside Marketing Conference, Feb. 7-9, 2001. Proceedings. pp. 118-119.

Kleinhenz, M.D., E.C. Wittmeyer, D.M. Kelly, and W. Bash. 2001. Potato variety development and selection for Ohio. Ohio Fruit and Vegetable Growers Congress and Ohio Roadside Marketing Conference, Feb. 7-9, 2001. Proceedings. pp. 123-124.

Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania State University; Barbara J. Christ)

Thirty-one varieties and clones were evaluated for early blight resistance, of these 12 had low disease severity and were considered moderately resistant. These clones were Gem Russet, Katahdin, Keuka Gold, Kennebec, Russet Burbank, AF1455-20, AF1753-16, AF1775-2, B1240-1, NY112, W1242, and W1313.

Thirty-one varieties and clones were evaluated for powdery scab resistance, of these 12 had low disease incidence and were considered moderately resistant. These clones were Russet Legend, Gem Russet, Superior, Russet Burbank, AF1758-7, Dark Red Norland, AF1753-16, W1242, CO86218-2, Keuka Gold, AF1763-2 and B0766-3.

Yield trials on these thirty-one varieties/clones resulted with 5 with acceptable yields and chip color. These were B0766-3, B1240-1, NY112, NY115 and AF1775-2. There were an additional 3 that had qualities for tablestock use and these were AF1569-2, AF1615-1 and AF1758-7.

From data collected on progeny from a diploid Solanum phureja x S. stenotomum population, the following individuals were identified with high levels of resistance: a) for early blight resistance, BD410-8, BD410-50, BD410-87, BD410-114 and BD410-160;

b) for late blight foliar resistance, BD410-42, BD410-50, BD410-52, BD410-87, Bd410-100 and BD410-191; c) for late blight tuber rot resistance, BD410-51, BD410-87, BD410-150, BD410-156, BD410-193 and BD410-211.

Virginia (Virginia Polytechnic University; Susan B. “Rikki” Sterret)

Germplasm Trials

Evaluated 35 round‑white and 15 red‑skinned clones or cultivars from 7 breeding programs. Of the 14 round‑white entries from the NE184 project, high yield, attractive tubers and lack of defects were noted for AF1758‑7. Additional evaluation for late fresh market is warranted. Seven percent of the entries had exceptional yield and tuber characteristics.

Early Generation Study

Evaluated 19 clones. Six of 19 clones had greater yield than the average Atlantic yield in NC and VA. Forty-two percent of the clones had greater yield than Atlantic when grown in VA, while 14% of round‑white entries out-yielded Atlantic in the germplasm trials. Twenty-six percent of the entries had exceptional yield and tuber characteristics.

Internal Heat Necrosis-Calcium Trial

After one year of evaluation, added Ca appeared to have little impact on IHN expression, but resistance to IHN was stable over locations (i.e., clones identified as resistant to IHN were relatively free of IHN at all locations).