Some estimates of genotype × environment interactions in potato variety tests

Five cultivars were studied for 3 years to estimate the genotype × environment interactions. Plant height was studied at four locations. The tuber characters, yield, type, number, and specific gravity were studied at three locations. There were no significant clone × location or clone × year interactions. The clone × year × location interaction was significant for plant height and tuber yield. The clone × replication in year and location interaction was significant for all characters studied. The theoretical variance of a clonal mean was used to determine the most efficient allocation of plots. The largest reduction in standard error of the mean was obtained by increasing locations. Comparisons of standard errors of differences in percentages of the observed mean were also made to estimate precision obtained with specific testing procedures.     

Bison,a new red-skinned potato variety

Bison, a new red potato, was introduced by North Dakota State University. This new red variety has smooth tuber type and bright red skin color. Bison yields somewhat less than Norland and Red Pontiac but the advantage of Bison over these two varieties is its uniformity and bright red color. Bison is about medium in total solids and makes chips comparable in color to Norchip but lighter in color than Kennebec. Bison is resistant to race 0 of the late blight organismPhytophthora infestans, but susceptible to race 1–4.     

Russette: A Russet-skin potato variety,combining high quality,high yields,and adaptation to the Northeastern states and Florida

Russette is a new, late maturing, russet potato variety adapted primarily for the northeastern United States and northern Florida. Tubers are oval to oblong, smooth with a medium-russet skin, and shallow eyes. Its specific gravity is similar to those of BelRus and Russet Burbank in areas of adaptation. Glycoalkaloid content is about 11 mg/100 g fresh weight. Baking quality is excellent, flesh is white, and best color of french fries is obtained from tubers stored at or above 13°C (55°F). Its long rest period makes it amenable to storage at a relatively high temperature before a chemical sprout inhibitor is needed. Russette is immune to virus A and leaf roll-induced tuber net necrosis; highly resistant to Verticillium wilt, tuber pinkeye, and tuber heat necrosis; and has good tolerance to scab, early blight, and Rhizoctonia infection of sprouts, stolon, and roots. Losses to rots and shrinkage in storage have been minimal. Russette is not resistant to viruses X, S, Y, and leaf roll and bacterial ring rot. Russette emerges to a stand about 10 days later than most varieties, however, subsequent vine growth is rapid until tuberization begins. Large-sized tubers may develop hollow heart under a late-season regime of high nitrogen and high moisture. A 22–30 cm (9″- to -12″) seed-piece spacing and 220 kg/ha (180 pounds/a) of nitrogen are recommended for production on mineral soils.     

Seminole: A new variety of potato combining good chipping characteristics with good field performance in Alabama,Florida, and North Carolina

Seminole (FL282 or B4469-7) is a new potato variety, named and released by the Research and Farm Departments of Frito-Lay, Inc. Its medium-early tubers are round to oblong with smooth, light cream-buff skin color. The eyes are shallow and pink. It was selected on the Research Farm, Rhinelander, Wisconsin from family line B4469, one of 399 family lines received from the National Potato Breeding Program, Beltsville, Maryland. Tested for its reaction to Verticillium wilt, it was one of the most resistant among 1,190 seedlings. It proved superior to many named and numbered varieties in specific gravity and chip color. In Alabama, Seminole produced relatively high yields of tubers with unusually high specific gravity. Tests in Florida and North Carolina gave similar results. In the South, Seminole is usually 7–10 days earlier than Sebago, and produces higher yields of tubers with higher specific gravity. Unlike Sebago, its tubers separate readily from the vines preventing losses in mechanical harvesting.     

Alaska Frostless,an inherently frost resistant potato variety

A potato clone with frost resistant foliage designated Alaska Frostless has been selected from the progeny of crosses involvingSolanum acaule and commercial varieties. Its chromosome number is (2N=5X=60). Nearly mature vines have withstood field frosting at?3 C for 2 hours and have recovered from several frosts of?2 C. Yields in cwt per acre of tubers 2–3.5 inch in diameter have equaled those of Alaska's standard varieties. Dry matter of 21.7% is equivalent to that of the Green Mountain variety. Tubers are flattened, round, smooth and white with a nonuniform faintly purple blush after exposure to light. Culinary quality, flavor, and texture are very good.     

Belrus: A new russet skin potato variety,combining high quality,pest resistance,and adaptation to the Northeastern United States and Florida

BelRus, a new russet potato variety, is medium late in maturity and adapted primarily for the Northeastern United States and northern Florida. Tubers are long, smooth and moderately flat with a heavy russet skin. Eyes are shallow and immediately adjacent skin is, for the most part, nonrussetted in the Northeastern U.S. Industry speaks of the BelRus there as the “white eyed russet.” BelRus is slightly higher in specific gravity than ‘Russet Burbank’, has a superior flavor when baked, and yields excellent french fries and flakes. Glycoalkaloid content of BelRus is quite low, being about 2 mg/100 g fresh tissue. BelRus is immune to virus A and tuber net necrosis; highly resistant to tuber heat necrosis, northern root knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla), and the pinkeye bacterial disease; moderately resistant to scab, Verticillium wilt, leaf roll and potato virus Y. It is not resistant to either late blight or early blight, or viruses M, S, and X. Necrotic spotting of the foliage occurs following periods of high temperature and extended drought. BelRus has demonstrated high tolerance to bruising and storage rots incurred during harvest and handling. Shrinkage in bulk storage has been minimal. BelRus is recommended to be planted at about 25 cm (10 inches) in-the-row on 90 cm (36) rows with about 215 kg (180–200 lbs/acre), N₂/ha in-the-row.     

Simcoe: A new early-maturing,chipping potato variety

Simcoe, a round, white, early potato variety with excellent boiling, baking and chipping qualities, was released by the University of Guelph, Agriculture Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in 1981. Yield is comparable to that of Norchip while the chip color ratings and specific gravity are higher. Simcoe is resistant to mild mosaic and late blight, moderately resistant to common scab and moderately susceptible toRhizoctonia. It is susceptible to virus leafroll but resistant to net necrosis from current season infection.