Early selection for chip quality and dry matter content in potato seedling populations in greenhouse or screenhouse

Summary The possibilities of selecting individual seedlings and seedling populations for dry matter content and chip colour were examined. Tuber glucose content as measured with Reflocheck Glucose test strips was strongly correlated with the colour of the chips, but Gluko-Test strips were less reliable. Glasshouse and field determinations of both the dry matter content and the glucose content of the seedling populations were closely related. Therefore it should be possible to select populations for both characters on the basis of the population performance in the glasshouse. Individual seedlings could be reliably selected for dry matter content, but such selection should not be rigorous. Individual seedling selection for chip colour is not recommended. Crisp in UK     

Susceptibility toPhytophthora infestans of field-and glass-house-grown potato tubers

Summary Tests for resistance toPhytophthora infestans were done twice in each of 2 years on field- and glasshouse-grown tubers of ten cultivars. The cultivar rankings, were almost identical for the means of the four glasshouse tests and the means of the four field tests. However, for the field tests but not for the glasshouse tests there were cultivar x harvest date and cultivar x year interactions. It is concluded that resistance can be assessed on glasshouse-grown tubers and that such assessments should prove more consistent over years than those done on field-grown tubers. R.L. Wastie died 16.1.96     

Breeding progress for potato chip quality in North American cultivars

Forty-four potato cultivars, released in the period between 1876 and the present were grown concurrently in field trials, stored simultaneously in three different environments, then evaluated for chip quality. They represented cultivars historically used and/or bred for potato chip production. Quality factors measured were tuber solids, chip color, reducing sugar levels, sucrose levels, and percent of defect-free chips. Tuber solids tended to increase in the late period cultivars, but trends were erratic. The release of Lenape marked the beginning of an increase in tuber solids that has continued to the present. There was a significant trend for lower reducing sugars and better chip color that corresponded to increasingly later cultivar release dates. Since about 1960, progress toward lower reducing sugars and better chip color has been constant, regardless of whether tubers were stored at 4.4 C, stored at 4.4 C and reconditioned, or stored at 10 C. Late period cultivars tended to have a greater percentage of defect-free chips in comparison to those released earlier, with most of the improvement coming during the last few years. This study provided evidence that potato breeders have made significant progress in developing cultivars with good chip quality. Evidence was also found that Lenape was a landmark cultivar and has been an important contributor to the observed breeding progress     

Assessing progenies of potato for resistance to skin spot (Polyscytalum pustulans) in the glasshouse

Summary Crosses were made between six parents differing in susceptibility to skin spot and glasshouse-grown tubers from true seedlings of the nine resulting progenies assessed for resistance to the disease. The assessment was evaluated by a two-year comparison with the behaviour of field-grown tubers of the progenies and their parents. The correlations between progenies in the glasshouse and field were r=0.911 and 0.753 and those between the mid-parental values and the progeny means were high (r>0.864), indicating that parental differences were heritable. It is concluded that correlations were sufficient for glasshouse-grown tubers to be used for assessing large numbers of progenies in genetical studies and for eliminating highly susceptible progenies at an early stage in a breeding programme. R.L. Wastie died 16.01.96.     

Differences in sugars,chip color,specific gravity and yield of selected potato cultivars grown in michigan

Six cultivars, Atlantic, Eramosa, Kanona, Norchip, Onaway and Saginaw Gold and four selections, MS 700-70, MS 700-83 (Spartan Pearl), MS 716-15 and W-855 (Snowden), were analyzed for sucrose, glucose, chip color, specific gravity and yield at 98 and 138 days in 1988 and 1989, t evaluate their performance to Michigan growing conditions. The average yield of these cultivars at the two harvests for 1988 and 1989 was 46.9 and 54.7 t/ha and 43.1 and 52.3 t/ha, respectively. Eramosa and Onaway were the earliest maturing varieties with low specific gravity, high glucose content and processed into dark colored chips. The glucose and sucrose contents of the remaining eight cultivars at each harvest date were low and produced acceptable chips. The specific gravity of Atlantic, MS 700-70, MS 716-15 and W-855 was in the range of 1.079–1.088 and for Norchip, Kanona and Saginaw Gold the range was 1.071–1.076. The date of harvest, variety and year of production had significant effect (p > 0.01) on yield. The specific gravity, glucose content and chip color were significantly influenced by variety and year of production. The correlation between chip colorvs glucose (r= -0.842, p = 0.000) and harvest datevs yield (r= -0.572, p = 0.000) was also significant.     

Assessing progenies of potato for resistance to early blight

Summary Progenies from crosses between cultivars varying widely in resistance to early blight (Alternaria solani Sor.), were assessed for resistance as true seedlings in a glasshouse in Scotland. The resistance of a representative sample of surviving genotypes from each progeny was compared with samples of the same progenies not previously exposed to the fungus, both in the glasshouse in Scotland and in the field in Israel. The exposed population was more resistant. Resistance was identified more effectively in adult plants from tubers in the glasshouse than in true seedlings and agreement between glasshouse and field assessment was better when progenies were compared rather than individual genotypes. The mid parent and progeny mean scores of the unexposed population were correlated at both sites, thus confirming that the resistance is heritable. Selecting resistant individuals at the seedling stage is suggested as a useful tool for resistance breeding, having first chosen the best parents for crossing.     

Effect of plant population and harvest timing on yield and chipping quality of Atlantic and Norchip potatoes at two Iowa locations

The effect of plant population and harvest timing on potato yield and chipping quality was studied at two Iowa locations during 1986, 1987, and 1988. Evaluations were conducted in eastern Iowa near Muscatine and in western Iowa at Whiting. The cultivars Atlantic and Norchip were planted at in-row spacings of 15, 31, and 46 cm and were harvested approximately 12, 14, and 16 weeks after planting. Delaying harvest until 14 or 16 weeks after planting resulted in greater yields and better specific gravities for both cultivars. At Muscatine, chip color was not significantly affected by harvest date, but at Whiting, each successive harvest produced lighter-colored chips. Greater seed piece populations increased both Atlantic arid Norchip yields. Greater planting populations also caused a small increase in specific gravity. Seed spacing did not significantly affect chip color. In comparison with Norchip, Atlantic produced tubers with higher specific gravities throughout the season and greater total yields on the final harvest date. Atlantic did, however, show susceptibility to hollow heart. The incidence of hollow heart was reduced by close seed spacing.     

Effect of irrigation applied at different growth stages and length of irrigation period on quality characters of potato tubers

Summary Potatoes were irrigated at three growth stages: (1) planting-stolon initiation. (2) stolon initiation-tuber bulking, and (3) tuber bulking, when available soil water dropped to 25%, 50% and 75%, bringing it up to field capacity; and irrigation ceased 0, 10 and 20 days before maturity. Significant increases in specific gravity, dry matter, starch content, chip yield and significant decreases in protein content and oil absorption rate of chips were observed due to the frequent irrigation at growth stages 1 and 2. No significant effect on chip colour was attributed to irrigation during the early growth stages. Frequent irrigations at the final growth stage were found to have deleterious effects on specific gravity, dry matter, starch content and chip yield especially when irrigation continued until maturity.     

Influence of potato specific gravity on yield and oil content of chips

Tubers from bulk samples of Norchip potatoes were separated into specific gravity groups by weighing each tuber in air and then in water. Forty-nine chipping samples were assembled according to specific gravity from the segregated tubers (1.060 to 1.110 specific gravity). Chip yield increased and chip oil content decreased linearly through a specific gravity of 1.110. The contribution of specific gravity to chip yield was demonstrated by expressing chip yeild on a zero percent oil basis. For all lots of Norchips tested, the specific gravity distribution was similar, and all standard deviations (s) were the same (0.0064). Using s, a table of tolerances was compiled for estimation of the appropriate sample size for routine specific gravity determinations.

     

Growth responses,cooking quality determinations,and leaf nutrient concentrations of potatoes as related to exchangeable calcium,magnesium, and potassium in the soil

Field experiments were conducted during 1977 and 1978 to determine the relationship between percent exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K in the soil, and yield, quality, and leaf concentration of 11 elements for several potato cultivars. The highest yields were obtained in soil containing a combination of 5% Mg and 5% K of the cation exchange capacity. All cultivars grew equally well in the high Ca field as in the low Ca field. Potato scab was no problem. Potassium treatment levels had a consistent effect on yield, specific gravity, and chip color. Specific gravity decreased and chip color improved as the K treatment levels increased from 2 to 8% of the CEC. Leaf elemental concentrations showed few consistent effects as a result of the Mg and K soil treatments.     

Genotypic variation in wheat grain fructan content revealed by a simplified HPLC method

Fructans are prebiotics, with potentially beneficial effects on human health. This study aimed to examine genetic variation in wheat grain fructan content using a simplified analytical method. The method involves extracting fructans from wheat grain followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to break down fructans into monosaccharides that can then be quantitatively measured by anion-exchange liquid chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection. The modified procedure is reliable and allows the handling of large numbers of flour samples at a low cost, and could therefore be useful for assessing large numbers of wheat breeding lines. Using this method, grain samples taken from 19 bread wheat cultivars and breeding lines grown in both glasshouse and the field were analysed for grain fructan content. In addition, grain samples of 29 international wheat landraces and 14 new wheat breeding lines from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) were surveyed for their fructan contents. There was significant genotypic variation among these materials, with grain fructan content ranging from 0.7 to 2.9% of grain dry weight. There was no evidence of strong genotype-by-environment interaction; the fructan contents of field-grown grain samples were positively correlated (r = 0.83) with those of glasshouse-grown samples of the same cultivars. It should therefore be possible to investigate the genetic control of variation for this trait using the simplified HPLC method and to select effectively for increased grain fructan content in wheat breeding.     

Specific gravity,potato chip color and tuber mineral content as affected by soil moisture and harvest dates

In 1966 and 1967 the chipping quality of three potato varieties was studied using three moisture regumes, two nitrogen levels, and three harvest dates. Specific gravity and chip color of potatoes freshly harvested and of those stored 10 days, along with chip color differences between the two periods, were tested. Of the three varieties tested — Anoka, Kennebec, Irish Cobbler — Anoka§ specific gravity was least depressed by soil-moisture stress and its chip color least affected by time of chipping; all tubers, however, chipped darker after being stored. High soil temperatures were associated with low specific gravities and dark chips. In 1966 irrigation tended to lower soil temperature, resulting in lighter chip color for potatoes harvested from irrigated than from nonirrigated plots; also color was lighter at the first than at the later harvests. In 1967, when air temperatures were consistently lower and rainfall nearly adequate, chip color was lighter for potatoes harvester later in the season. Nitrogen levels did not influence chip color. Moisture regimes and varieties influenced mineral content of tubers more consistently for the two years than did harvest dates or nitrogen levels. Specific gravity did not correlate significantly with chip color.     

Chip color of the developing potato tuber

Chip color was unacceptable from tubers of Kennebec in an immature condition soon after the tubers were set. Dark colored chips were also obtained from tubers harvested late in the season when soil temperatures were 50 F or less. Two high quality experimental varieties, F5889 in particular, gave excellent chip color regardless of tuber maturity all season and until soil temperatures in fall declined to 40 F. The data indicate that acceptable chip color may be obtained at most stages of tuber development in varieties of high chipping quality. Therefore when selecting seedlings from hybrid plant populations, chip color determined from selections made soon after tuber initiation could be useful. In a supplementary study no marked variations in chip color were obtained from tubers located different distances from the mother plant.     

Computerized video image analysis to quantify color of potato chips

Color analysis is a critical quality evaluation procedure in the potato processing industry. This research sought to determine whether potato chip color could be quantified by video image analysis. Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes, stored at 8 and 5 C, were processed into 8 mm thick chips, which were fried for three time periods. Chip color was characterised by mean gray level values. Changes in video equipment operation and sample presentation were investigated to establish the most reproducible conditions for chip color measurements. The use of image analysis software to analyze mean gray level values from specific regions of the chip was demonstrated. Differences in chip color from potatoes stored at the two temperatures could be distinguished by mean gray level values. For potatoes that had been stored at 5 C, different chip frying times were distinguished on the basis of mean gray level. Chips of 1 mm thickness were prepared from 13 selections and 2 cultivars and color measured by mean gray level, Lvalue (Hunterlab D25L-2 colorimeter) and by Agtron value (Agtron M31A color meter, green mode). Good correlation was found between color assessed by mean gray level and color measured by the Agtron and Hunterlab. A repeatability study showed that image analysis color was not as repeatable as color measured by the two other techniques. Nevertheless, video image analysis appears to have potential as an objective assessor of chip color, and through software development, has specific advantages over other color assessment techniques.     

Jewel—A new potato variety with high solids and excellent chipping qualities

Jewel is a new potato variety with a good yield of No. 1 tubers and high specific gravity. It chips extremely well to produce light color chips with high chip yields per hundredweight. It has a heavy tuber set per hill but a tendency to produce small tubers. Tests in New York and Wisconsin indicate this variety consistently produces high specific gravity and should not be considered as an all-purpose potato. The variety has the ability to recondition in a short time following 40 F storage. It has no known disease resistance.     

Potato chip color,specific gravity and fertilization of potatoes with N−P−K

The effects of fertilizers on potato chip color were studied over a period of 11 years. Yield and specific gravity data also were taken. Single element and compete fertilizers were used in randomized block and split plot experiments. Most of the work was done with the Russet Burbank variety but in some experiments the Kennebec, White Rose, Norgold Russet and Cascade varieties were also included. Specific gravity and chip color data were taken immediately after harvest. Effects of storage and reconditioning on chip color were recorded in some cases. Though statistically significant effects of N?P?K on chip color were found, the differences were small and of no commercial importance. Neither nutrient balance nor total amount of fertilizer used greatly affected chip color whether the tubers were harvested “immature” in July or in October after the vines were dead. The greatest effect of over-fertilization was on the specific gravity of the tubers. As amount of fertilizer applied increased, specific gravity often decreased which would reduce the amount of processed product per unit of fresh produce. Since most manufacturers of processed potatoes prefer high specific gravity tubers perhaps varieties should be grown specifically for the processing industry. Since proper fertilization did not have a commercially important effect on chip color but greatly increased the yield, farmers should fertilize for maximum production when growing potatoes for potato chips.     

Performance of true potato seed families. 2. Comparison of transplants vs. seedling tubers

Summary A potato crop can be grown from true potato seed (TPS) either by transplanting seedlings to the field (seedling transplants) or by planting tubers derived from seedlings (seedling tubers). The effect of the planting method on performance of TPS families was evaluated for three types of families, 4x×2x hybrid, open pollinated, and self pollinated. Families from seedling transplants and seedling tubers and their 4x parental clones were compared for tuber yield and specific gravity. Families from tubers had substantially higher yields and significantly more uniform specific gravity than families from transplants. Hybrid seedling tuber families had a higher mean yield than the parental clones and did not differ from them in specific gravity. Selection in the seedling generation could further improve both OP and hybrid families from transplants and from seedling tubers. Paper no. 3163 from the Department of Genetics, University of Madison.     

Evaluation of potato cooking quality in Argentina

Cooking quality of mature tubers was assessed for ten Argentine potato cultivars, two cultivars of foreign origin and three advanced clones. Specific gravity, dry matter and starch content, as well as quality of boiled potatoes and chips were determined Pampeana INTA had the highest dry matter content with 21.8 percent and would appear to be a very good cultivar for dehydrated products. The lowest dry matter values were obtained for three of the four most widely planted cultivars: Spunta, Bonaerense La Ballenera and Kennebec Kennebec demonstrated its good quality for chipping with a score of 6.9 points. Primicia INTA and Sureña INTA with high dry matter content and good features for chipping can also be used to produce chips Breeding under high temperatures during tuberization has proven to be a successful strategy in developing cultivars that are superior in dry matter contents to the cultivars currently imported from the northern hemisphere     

Predicting yield and processing quality of potato breeding selections

The linear relationship between “site mean” and potato cultivar performance was used to develop predictive models for total yield, yield of US No 1 grade, per cent US No 1 grade, specific gravity and fried chip color. The best fitting linear expression for each of the traits was determined by linear regression for specific cultivars. Common limits for “site means” could then be substituted into the expressions for predictive purposes. Application of this method to large and small data sets demonstrated its use for interpreting preliminary yield trial information for the identification of superior breeding selections.