Russet Legend: A full season long Russet for processing and fresh market use

Russet Legend, a moderately late maturing variety especially suitable for frozen French fry processing but also acceptable for tablestock use (boiling, and baking), was jointly released by the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1998. Russet Legend was evaluated in irrigated trials in Oregon from 1988 to 1997, and in western regional trials from 1990 to 1992. Total yields were similar to those of Russet Burbank, but Russet Legend produced higher marketable yields. In three years of regional trials at up to 13 locations in seven western states, Russet Legend averaged 47.3 Mg/ha marketable yield compared with 36.5 Mg/ha for Russet Burbank and 33.6 Mg/ha for Russet Norkotah. Russet Legend has consistently achieved lighter fry color and higher specific gravity than Russet Burbank. Russet Legend is less susceptible toVerticillium wilt than Russet Burbank or Russet Norkotah. It is susceptible to PLRV and net necrosis, and expresses PVY foliar symptoms clearly. Russet Legend is less susceptible to tuber infection and decay caused byPhytophthora infestans than Ranger Russet and Russet Norkotah. Russet Legend is less susceptible to hollow heart, brown center, growth cracks, and sugar ends than Russet Burbank     

Wallowa Russet: A full season long Russet for processing and fresh market

The Agricultural Experiment Stations of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington and the U.S. Department of Agriculture jointly released Wallowa Russet in 2002. This late maturing variety is most suitable for frozen french fry use, but may find limited fresh market potential because of outstanding flavor and texture when baked. Wallowa Russet was evaluated as AO87277-6 in Oregon irrigated trials from 1993 through 1999, and in western regional trials from 1997 through 1999. Averaged over 13 locations in seven states, Wallowa Russet produced total yields of 55.6 mt/ha compared to 53.5 and 45.7 mt/ha for Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, respectively, and U.S. No.1 yields of 44.4 mt/ha compared to 30.7 and 36.0 mt/ha for Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah. Specific gravity is consistently higher for Walowa Russet than for Russet Burbank and fry color is as light or lighter; sugar end development is less than that observed in Russet Burbank. Wallowa Russet is similar to Russet Burbank in susceptibility toVerticillium wilt, foliar early blight (Alternaria solani), and potato leafroll virus (PLRV). However, Wallowa Russet develops less net necrosis than Russet Burbank from PLRV infection. Wallowa Russet is more susceptible to common scab (Streptomyces scabies) than Russet Burbank. It has moderate resistance to potato virus Y (PVY). Tubers of Wallowa Russet are less susceptible to tuber infection and decay caused by potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) than Russet Norkotah and Ranger Russet. Wallowa Russet has less hollow heart, brown center, blackspot bruise, and fewer growth cracks than Russet Burbank but is more susceptible to shatter bruise. Vitamin C is higher for Wallowa Russet (30.4 mg/100 g fresh weight) than for Russet Burbank (21.9) or Russet Norkotah (22.0), and protein content averaged 5.6% compared to 4.7% and 4.9% for Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, respectively.     

Century Russet: A high-yielding fresh market cultivar with verticillium resistance

Century Russet, a high-yielding, late-maturing variety suitable for fresh tablestock use, was jointly released in 1995 by Agricultural Experiment Stations in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, California, and Texas and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Extremely high yields have been observed for Century Russet in variety trials conducted in Oregon and throughout the western United States under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Century Russet produced 40 percent higher marketable yields than Russet Burbank and 67 percent higher marketable yields than Russet Norkotah in 11 regional trials conducted over a three-year period in sevenwestern states. Uniform tuber shape, high yields of count carton sizes, and attractive tuber appearance make Century Russet well suited for the fresh market industry. It is not recommended for chipping or processing into frozen products because of low solids and dark fry color. Century Russet is highly resistant toVerticillium wilt and consistently develops less hollow heart, brown center, and other internal defects than Russet Burbank. It requires more time between vine kill and harvest than Russet Burbank for adequate tuber maturity and skin set. Bruised Century Russet tubers are susceptible to early blight andFusarium infection.     

Teton Russet: An Early-Maturing,Dual-Purpose Potato Cultivar Having Higher Protein and Vitamin C Content,Low Asparagine,and Resistances to Common Scab and Fusarium Dry Rot

Teton Russet is an early-maturing, medium-russeted, potato cultivar with high merit for both fresh-pack and processing. In early harvest trials in the Pacific Northwest, Teton Russet had total yields similar to Russet Norkotah, and higher than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank. Marketable yield of Teton Russet in the early harvest trials was also comparable to or higher than Russet Norkotah in Washington and Oregon, and higher than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank at these sites, as well as in Idaho. In full-season trials, while total yield of the earlier-maturing Teton Russet tended to be lower than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank, marketable yield was generally higher than Russet Burbank across the majority of sites due to its higher percentage of U.S. No. 1 tubers. Teton Russet is suitable for processing, with acceptable fry color following up to 8 months of storage at 8.9 °C. Uniformity of fry color was also very consistent. Teton Russet has shown lower levels of the amino acid asparagine relative to Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank which may contribute to lower acrylamide levels in French fries and other processed potato products. Teton Russet is notable for having resistance to common scab (Streptomyces spp.) and Fusarium dry rot, and is moderately resistant to tuber net necrosis. Analyses have also shown Teton Russet to have significantly higher protein levels than Russet Norkotah, Ranger Russet, and Russet Burbank, as well as higher vitamin C content than Russet Norkotah and Russet Burbank. Teton Russet was released in 2011 by the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and is a product of the Pacific Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program.     

Klamath Russet: A Full Season, Fresh Market, Long Russet

Klamath Russet, a late-maturing cultivar for fresh market use, was jointly released by the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2000. Klamath Russet was tested in irrigated trials in Oregon from 1990 to 1999 and in Western Regional Trials from 1994 to 1996. Klamath Russet yields of U.S. #ls have exceeded those for Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah by more than 30%, averaged across all trials. Klamath Russet is moderately resistant to Verticillium wilt and highly resistant to common scab. Specific gravity for Klamath Russet has averaged 1.076 across all trials compared with 1.070 and 1.081 for Russet Norkotah and Russet Burbank, respectively. Klamath Russet is not considered suitable for french fry production because of high sugar and low starch contents.     

Sage Russet: a New High Yielding Russet Potato Variety with Cold-Sweetening Resistance,High Vitamin C and Protein Contents and Excellent Fresh Pack and Processing Potential

Sage Russet was released in 2009 by Oregon State University, in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho and Washington. It is a product of the Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program. Sage Russet has a medium-early maturity and produces long, somewhat flattened tubers with medium russeting of the skin. Total yields of Sage Russet are similar to those of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet, but are significantly higher than those of Russet Norkotah. Sage Russet has significantly higher U.S. No.1 yields than Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, and Ranger Russet. It can be grown as an early or late crop with high U.S. No.1 yields and minimal internal defects. It achieved very high merit scores in processing and fresh market in Western Regional trials and can be considered for both markets. Sage Russet has a medium to high fertility requirements with high nitrogen use efficiency and medium storage capability. Sage Russet has moderate specific gravity and produces lighter fry color than the industry standard varieties. The color of fried strips following tuber storage at 4.4 °C and 7.2 °C is significantly lighter for Sage Russet than the control varieties, indicating good cold sweetening resistance. Chemical analyses have shown that Sage Russet has higher protein and vitamin C content than control varieties. Sage Russet is moderately resistant to early dying, early blight, and common scab, is resistant to tuber late blight, but susceptible to Fusarium wilt and is prone to shatter bruise.     

Pomerelle Russet: an Early Maturing Potato Variety with High Yields of U.S. No. 1 Tubers Suitable for Fresh Market and mid-Storage Processing and Tolerance to Potato Mop-top Virus

Pomerelle Russet is an early maturing fresh potato variety, which produces moderately high early-season (95–110 days after planting) yields of long tubers with brown-russet skin. It is notable for its very attractive, smooth tubers and resistances to internal and external defects with a high percentage of U.S. No. 1 tubers. Fresh merit ratings for Pomerelle Russet in trials conducted in Idaho, Oregon and Washington were consistently higher than Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah. Early harvest yields for Pomerelle Russet are generally comparable to Russet Norkotah with a higher percentage of U.S. No. 1 tubers. Compared to Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, Pomerelle Russet has greater resistance to Potato mop-top virus, soft rot, corky ringspot and tuber infections from late blight. It also has higher protein and vitamin C concentrations than Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, indicating that it can provide an enhanced level of dietary protein and vitamin C relative to these standard potato varieties. Pomerelle Russet has moderate specific gravity and good resistance to sugar ends. It also has moderately long dormancy, about 30 days shorter than Russet Burbank. Average post-harvest processing ratings for Pomerelle Russet were similar to Ranger Russet and greater than Russet Burbank. Pomerelle Russet also has maintained acceptable fry color for about 180–200 days in storage at 8.9 °C, indicating potential for processing out of mid-term storage, with improved fry color uniformity relative to industry standards. However, its primary use appears to be as a high quality, early fresh variety.     

Alturas: A multi-purpose, Russet potato cultivar with high yield and tuber specific gravity

‘Alturas’, a late-maturing, high-yielding, russet potato cultivar with high tuber specific gravity, was released in 2002 by the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Originally selected for dehydration processing, its cold-sweetening resistance also makes it suitable for processing out of storage into french fries and other frozen potato products. Culinary quality is high, with larger tubers suitable for fresh market if heavily russeted skin is not essential. Alturas consistently produced greater total and U.S. No. 1 yields than ‘Russet Burbank’ and ‘Ranger Russet’ in southern Idaho trials. Across other western trial sites, total yields of Alturas have on average been 29% and 14% greater than Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet, respectively. Alturas is resistant to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) and early blight (Alternaria solani). Compared with Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet, Alturas is less susceptible to corky ringspot and foliar and tuber infection by late blight (Phytophthora infestans). It also is less susceptible to tuber net necrosis and Fusarium dry rot than Russet Burbank, and is more resistant to common scab (Streptomyces scabies) than Ranger Russet. However, Alturas is more susceptible to infection by PVY and PVX than Ranger Russet. Total nitrogen application recommendations for Alturas are approximately 40% less than those for Russet Burbank. Alturas requires 15% to 20% more water during the growing season than does Russet Bur-bank.     

Alta Russet: An early-maturing, high-quality russet cultivar for wedge-cut french fry production

Alta Russet (Russet Nugget × Ranger Russet) is an early-maturing cultivar, with high yield and excellent processing quality (fry color and dry matter) coupled with a tuber size and shape profile ideal for the manufacture of wedge-cut french fries. In the western Canadian regional trials harvested 110 days after planting, the yield of the new cultivar was similar and the specific gravity superior to that of Russet Burbank. In multi-harvest date trials conducted under irrigated conditions in southern Alberta (Canada) the yield of Alta Russet was superior to Russet Burbank and Shepody and similar to Ranger Russet (Amisk) when harvested at 95 and 110 days after planting. The tuber specific gravity of the new cultivar was superior to Russet Burbank, Shepody, and Ranger Russet (Amisk) at 95 days after planting. At 110 days after planting tuber specific gravity was similar to Ranger Russet (Amisk), but superior to Russet Burbank and Shepody. Fry color was generally superior to Russet Burbank in the western Canadian regional trials and in the multi-harvest trials was generally similar to Russet Burbank, Shepody, and Ranger Russet (Amisk). Alta Russet produces excellent fry color out of long-term storage at 8 C and acceptable color at 6 C. External and internal defects occurred at very low levels in all trials. Alta Russet is resistant to common scab and Verticillium wilt, moderately resistant to early blight and Fusarium wilt and susceptible to Fusarium dry rot and late blight. The new cultivar shows clear symptoms when infected with bacterial ring rot.     

Nitrogen fertilization of irrigated Russet potatoes in southcentral Alaska

Allagash Russet, BelRus, Frontier Russet, HiLite Russet, Russet Norkotah and Russet Burbank were evaluated with preplant N fertilizer levels of 0, 67, 134, 201, and 201 kg N/ha in a split application on a Knik silt loam in 1990 and 1991 near Palmer, Alaska. BelRus and Russet Norkotah yielded less marketable tubers than the other cultivars and Russet Burbank performed well under warm, dry 1990 conditions and poorly when conditions were cool and wet (1991). Allagash, HiLite and Frontier Russets were consistent producers with marketable tuber yields averaging 35.4, 32.3, and 32.2 t/ha, respectively. Marketable tuber yield was maximized with approximately 175 kg total N/ha (residual soil plus applied) and approached 43 t/ha in 1990. Splitting the N application had no significant effect on tuber yield. Newly released russets appear promising for commercial Alaska producers.     

GemStar russet: A potato variety with high yield, good culinary quality, excellent fresh market appearance, and resistance to common scab

GemStar Russet, derived from the cross Gem Russet x A8341-5, was released in 2004 by the USDA/ARS and the agricultural experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The foliage of GemStar Russet is dark yellowish-green, spreading, with large leaves and abundant white flowers. The tubers are brown, medium to heavily russeted, oblong, with a slightly prominent eyebrow, white flesh, and indistinct pith. GemStar Russet was compared with Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah in trials across the Pacific Northwest for yield, quality, and disease response. Except for locations in southern Idaho, in general, GemStar Russet produced slightly lower total yield than Russet Burbank, but much higher U.S. No. 1 yield. When compared with Russet Norkotah, GemStar Russet produced similar total and U.S. No. 1 yields in early harvest trials but higher total and U.S. No. 1 yields in late-harvest trials. When observed for defect problems, GemStar Russet exhibited resistance to second growth, growth cracks, and stemend discoloration, moderate resistance to blackspot and shatter bruising, but a high level of susceptibility to hollow heart. In product quality tests, GemStar Russet was rated superior to Russet Burbank for french fry quality and comparable for baked potato quality. GemStar Russet was found to be immune to PVX, resistant to common scab and powdery scab, moderately resistant to Verticillium wilt, tuber net necrosis caused by PLRV, and corky ringspot. It demonstrated susceptibility to late blight, PLRV, dry rot, soft rot, and ringrot and extreme susceptibility to PVY^o. Biochemical analysis of GemStar Russet tubers showed them to be higher in protein and much higher in vitamin C than those of Russet Burbank or Russet Norkotah. Three-year average for tuber glycoalkaloid concentration was 1.5 mg 100 g^?1.     

Fresh Market Evaluation of Six Russet-Type Potato Varieties and Four Russet Norkotah Strains

In 2016, Russet Norkotah was the second most widely grown potato variety in the US; however, recent research has identified alternatives with excellent production economics. During 2011–2013, fresh market variety research was conducted in the Columbia Basin of central Washington, a long-season production region. Russet Norkotah was compared to five varieties–Classic Russet, Mountain Gem Russet, Russet Burbank, Targhee Russet, and Teton Russet–and four sub-clonal strains–CO-3, CO-8, TX-278, and TX-296–derived from Russet Norkotah. Each variety was evaluated for early- (104 days between planting and vine kill) and late- (150 days between planting and vine kill) harvest tuber size profile, grade, and yield, grower economic value, susceptibility to blackspot bruise and shatter bruise, emergence, stem and at-harvest tuber numbers, tuber length-to-width ratios, and quality. When harvested early, Classic Russet and Mountain Gem Russet produced 30% and 15% more gross revenue than Russet Norkotah, respectively. All other varieties and Russet Norkotah strains except CO-3 produced as much early-harvest gross revenue as Russet Norkotah. CO-3 early-harvest revenue was close to 50% lower than that of Russet Norkotah. All varieties and Russet Norkotah strains produced significantly greater late-harvest yields and gross returns than Russet Norkotah. Late-harvest gross revenue for Targhee Russet and Mountain Gem Russet was 38% and 34% higher than Russet Norkotah, respectively. Classic Russet, Mountain Gem Russet, Targhee Russet, and Teton Russet had significantly more shatter bruise following the late harvest than Russet Norkotah and all Russet Norkotah strains. Russet Burbank was among the most susceptible to blackspot and Targhee Russet the least, with 32% and 2.1%, respectively. If bruising is mitigated, Mountain Gem Russet, Classic Russet, and Teton Russet may be suitable alternatives to Russet Norkotah and Russet Norkotah strains for both early and late harvests.     

Summit Russet: A new russet potato variety with good fresh market and frozen processing qualities

Summit Russet (A84118-3), the result of the cross A77236-6 x TND329-1Russ, was released in 2003 by the USDA/ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The vines of Summit Russet are erect, with very thick stems, large yellowish-green leaves and abundant white flowers. The tubers are tan, with medium russet skin, long-flattened shape, a slightly prominent eyebrow, white flesh, and moderately prominent pith. Tuber dormancy is very long. Summit Russet was compared with Russet Burbank in trials across the Pacific Northwest for yield, quality, and disease response. In general, Summit Russet produced similar or lower total yields than did Russet Burbank, but higher U.S. No. 1 yields. In Idaho variety trials, Summit Russet exhibited resistance to second growth, growth cracks, blackspot bruise, and stem-end discoloration, and moderate susceptibility to hollow heart and shatter bruise. In comprehensive product quality evaluations, Summit Russet was rated superior to Russet Burbank for french fry quality and similar for baked potato quality. French fry quality was retained after long-term storage. In replicated disease trials, Summit Russet was found to have good resistance to common scab, early blight tuber rot, and Verticillium wilt, and moderate resistance to Fusarium dry rot and tuber net necrosis caused by PLRV. It demonstrated susceptibility to late blight, foliar PLRV, PVX, PVY^o, and bacterial soft rot. Biochemical analysis of Summit Russet tubers showed them to be higher in total solids and sucrose, and lower in dextrose than those of Russet Burbank. Tuber glycoalkaloid concentration as measured from tubers produced in 1994–1996 trials was 6.7 mg 100 g¹.     

Pacific Russet: An early maturing, attractive russet cultivar with excellent culinary quality

Pacific Russet is a high-yielding, early maturing, oblong russet fresh market cultivar with excellent tuber appearance and culinary quality. In trials conducted in western Canada the yield of the new cultivar was generally superior to Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, and Atlantic at 80, 90, and 110 days after planting. In the North Central Regional Variety Trial the yield of Pacific Russet exceeded that of Russet Norkotah in four of the eight sites in 2000 and three of the eight sites in 2001. In trials conducted in Ontario (Canada) Pacific Russet exceeded the yield of Goldrush at both sites in 2001 and in 2002 at two of the three sites that included both cultivars. External and internal defects occur at very low levels. The new cultivar is resistant to common scab and moderately resistant to Verticillium and Fusarium wilt, but susceptible to Fusarium dry rot and late blight (foliar). Pacific Russet shows clear foliar but not tuber symptoms when infected with bacterial ring rot.     

Millennium Russet: A dual purpose russet potato variety

Millennium Russet is a medium-late variety with long tubers having light russet skin and white flesh. It has potential as a fresh market and processing (french fries) variety. The tuber type of Millennium Russet is similar to Russet Burbank, but with better external and internal quality. The marketable yield, tuber set, and specific gravity are higher than Russet Burbank. Tubers show good fry color when processed from cold storage (7.2 C). Millennium Russet has a bland flavor and is less mealy and discolored than Russet Burbank. Chemical maturity of Millennium Russet occurs at approximately the same time as Russet Burbank, but it has lower sucrose levels in the bud and stem end. The glucose levels of Millennium Russet were 50% less than Russet Burbank throughout the first 4 months of storage at 10 C. Low glucose levels in the stem end of Millennium Russet when processed out of storage suggest tolerance to stress and low vulnerability to sugar end. Millennium Russet is resistant to common scab and corky ring spot, moderately resistant to dry rot, pink rot, and black scurf, and moderately susceptible to Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt and brown rot. Millennium Russet is more sensitive to blackspot bruise than Russet Burbank, but more resistant to shatter bruise. Tuber yield of Millennium Russet was less responsive to nitrogen rates when compared with Russet Burbank, but tuber size distribution was more responsive to increases in in-row spacing.     

Russet Burbank yield response to sprinkler-applied nitrogen fertilizer

Yield response curves were developed for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum cv. Russet Burbank) with sprinkler-applied N fertilizer on a high-frequency schedule. The potatoes were grown on a Quincy sand to loamy sand (mixed, mesic, Xeric Torripsamments) typical of sandy-textured soils of the center-pivot irrigated areas of the Columbia River Basin of Oregon and Washington. These soils require daily irrigation at peak evapotranspiration because of low water-holding capacity. Yields were measured for total quantities of N, ranging from 100 to 665 kg N/ha, applied in small frequent increments as a urea-NH₄NO₃ solution. Maximum tuber yields ranged from 67 to 85 Mg/ha in 6 experiments over a period of 6 years. Economically optimum yields were obtained at fertilizer rates between 300 and 400 kg N/ha depending on cost-price ratio of N fertilizer and potatoes. Fertilization in this range should optimize tuber yield and quality with fertilizer N efficiency and economic return on fertilizer investment.     

Lemhi Russet: A new high yielding potato variety with wide adaptation,attractive tubers,and high internal quality

Lemhi Russet, a new oblong, russet-skinned potato variety, was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, California, Washington, and North Dakota on September 23, 1980. The tubers of Lemhi Russet have been blockier, larger, 6% higher in solids, 50% lower in reducing sugars, and 25% higher in vitamin C than those of Russet Burbank. Lemhi Russet has averaged 34% more U.S. No. 1 tubers than Russet Burbank in 6 years of trials in five states. It was superior to Norgold Russet in yield and specific gravity in early harvest trials. In pilot plant and laboratory trials, Lemhi Russet made excellent french fries, baked well with a mealy texture, but sloughed when boiled. Lemhi Russet has a high degree of resistance to scab and net necrosis, but is susceptible to potato viruses S, X, Y, and to the leafroll virus. It is also susceptible to bruising and blackspot.     

Butte: A long Russet potato variety with excellent dehydrating quality

‘BUTTE’, a new long russet potato variety, was released by the Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations in April, 1977. Its tubers are similar to those of ‘Russet Burbank’ but BUTTE offers several advantages to growers and processors. BUTTE has averaged 7% more total yield and 25% more U.S. No. 1’s than Russet Burbank over 51 location-years of testing across southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, and in the Columbia Basin. Its specific gravity in these trials averaged .004 higher than that of Russet Burbank. Dehydrating quality of BUTTE is superior to that of Russet Burbank and the product has longer shelf life. BUTTE french fries well although it accumulates slightly more sugars in storage than does Russet Burbank. Its vitamin C content has averaged 58% higher and protein content 20% higher than that of Russet Burbank. BUTTE is hypersensitive to virus X and resistant to net necrosis. Other disease reactions are similar to those of Russet Burbank.     

Bannock russet: A dual-purpose, russet potato cultivar with high U. S. No. 1 yield and multiple disease resistances

Bannock Russet, a late-maturing, long russet potato cultivar, was released in 1999 by the USDA-ARS and the experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. It is suitable for processing into french fries and other frozen products. Its attractive russeted skin and excellent culinary qualities also make it suitable for fresh market. Bannock Russet, in comparisons with Russet Burbank, has consistently produced greater U.S. No. 1 yields in trials conducted throughout southern Idaho. In other western trial sites, total yields of Bannock Russet have been comparable to or smaller than that of Russet Burbank, but its percentage of undersize and cull potatoes is consistently less. Bannock Russet is resistant to potato virus Y (PVY), Verticillium wilt, common scab, and leafroll net necrosis. It also has moderate resistance to early blight (foliar and tuber) andErwinia soft rot. With respect to other potato diseases/disorders, Bannock Russet’s level of susceptibility is similar to that of Russet Burbank; the exception being shatter bruise, with Bannock Russet displaying a greater susceptibility. Cultural management guidelines have been developed to minimize shatter bruise in Bannock Russet. Bannock Russet’s multiple disease resistances coupled with its low nitrogen requirement, make it a low-input cultivar that could significantly reduce growers’ production costs.     

Selection, evaluation, and identification of improved Russet Norkotah strains

Strain (sub-clonal, line, or intraclonal) selection for certain characteristics within some potato varieties has been very successful e.g. improved skin type (Russet Burbank from Burbank), improved skin color (Red LaSoda from LaSoda; Red Norland and Dark Red Norland from Norland), and improved vine vigor and yield (Norgold Russet M from Norgold Russet). In 1989, strain selection with Russet Norkotah was initiated by the Texas Potato Variety Development Program. Some 192 giant hill and/or tall type plants were selected from seedsmen and/or commercial Russet Norkotah fields in Colorado, while 183 were selected from commercial fields in Texas. Replicated yield trials with the final 13 of the original strain selections and Russet Norkotah were conducted in 1992, 1993, and 1994 in both Colorado and Texas. A mixed model analysis of variance was performed followed by disjoint cluster analysis in order to group strains into high, medium, and low yielding classes or clusters. Canonical discriminant analysis was performed to confirm the three clusters and to determine the extent to which various yield attributes are related and can be used to separate the three clusters. Several strains including TXNS (Texas Norkotah Strain) 112, TXNS 134, and TXNS 278 were identified as superior in Colorado, while TXNS 223, TXNS 249, and TXNS 296 were similarly identified for Texas growing conditions. These strains usually outyielded Russet Norkotah by 20–30%.