Liberator: A round white chip- processing variety with resistance to scab

Liberator is a round white chip-processing selection with medium-high specific gravity and resistance to scab (Streptomyces scabies Thaxter). The tubers will chip process out of the field and from 10 C storage. The tuber appearance is similar to Norchip. Post-harvest tuber tests indicate a tolerance to fusarium dry rot. Liberator was tested in the North Central Regional Trials and the National Snack Food Association Trials. Under irrigated conditions the yield and specific gravity are similar to Snowden and Atlantic. Liberator has a full-season vine maturity that is similar to Snowden and tuber dormancy equal to Atlantic.     

Boulder: A round white multipurpose potato variety

Boulder is a round white selection with medium specific gravity that can be used in both the tablestock and chip-processing markets. The tubers will chip process out-of-the-field and from 10 C storage. The tubers of Boulder are large in size with a low incidence of internal defects. Boulder was tested in Michigan State University trials, the North Central Regional trials, on-farm trials in Michigan and other out-of-state replicated agronomic trials. Under irrigated conditions in Michigan, the yield is similar to or better than Atlantic, but specific gravity is less. Boulder has a full-season vine maturity that is similar to Snowden, but the tubers size early. Based upon our trials, an in-row spacing of less than 25.4 cm to reduce the percentage of oversize tubers is recommended. In simulated bruise tests, Boulder had less blackspot bruising than Atlantic, but was more blackspot susceptible than Onaway. Based upon five years of trials, Boulder has resistance to scab that is greater than Atlantic, but less than Onaway.     

Marcy: A chipping variety with resistance to common scab and the golden nematode

‘Marcy’ is a white-skinned, white-fleshed potato cultivar notable for its high yield, good chip color, and resistance to common scab and race Ro1 of the golden cyst nematode. It was selected from a cross made at Cornell University in 1990 between ‘Atlantic’ and Q155-3. Full-season marketable yields of Marcy have averaged 15% to 20% greater than Atlantic in 83 trials across New York, Maine, and Pennsylvania. Specific gravity of Marcy has averaged 0.008 less than Atlantic. Chip color out of 7 C storage in New York has been similar to ‘Pike’, but not as light as ‘Snowden’. Marcy tubers have an attractive oval shape, shallow eyes, and highly textured skin. Marcy was jointly released by the New York and Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Stations in 2002.     

Lamoka,a Variety with Excellent Chip Color Out of Cold Storage and Resistance to the Golden Cyst Nematode

Lamoka is a white-skinned, white-fleshed potato variety notable for excellent chip color from cold storage, good yield and specific gravity, and resistance to both common scab and race Ro1 of the golden cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis). It was selected from a cross made at Cornell University in 1998 between NY120 and NY115. The tubers are round-oblong and slightly flattened, with shallow eyes and relatively smooth skin. Chip color out of cold storage is better than ‘Snowden’. Marketable yield averaged 90% of Snowden across 95 trials in New York, Pennsylvania and Maine, while specific gravity averaged 0.003 less than Snowden. Lamoka was released by the New York Agricultural Experiment Station in 2011.     

White Pearl—A chipping potato variety with high level of resistance to cold sweetening

White Pearl is a chipping cultivar with high level of resistance to cold sweetening. The cold-chipping capacity of White Pearl is better than the current chipping cultivars, including Atlantic, Snowden and NorValley. White Pearl has low glucose content and good chip color when processed directly after a 7-month storage period at 3.3 to 5.5 C. White Pearl tubers are similar to Snowden with a round oval shape, light netting, shallow eyes, white flesh, small to medium size, uniform shape, and are practically free of external and internal defects. The yield and specific gravity of White Pearl are medium. White Pearl is similar to Snowden in susceptibility to early blight, pink rot and soft rot, but it is slightly more resistant to common scab. White Pearl vines are susceptible to late blight, but can be managed effectively with fungicides. White Pearl is more sensitive to blackspot bruise than Atlantic or Snowden at 7.2 C, but is more resistant at higher temperatures. White Pearl is sensitive to metribuzin (Sencor), but not rimsulfuron (Matrix) or sulfentrazone (Spartan).     

Effect of cultivar, row spacing, and weed management on weed biomass, potato yield, and net crop value

Research was conducted to quantify the effects of potato cultivar, row spacing, and weed control treatments on weed biomass, crop yield, and net crop value. Cultivars evaluated included Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, Goldrush, Dark Red Norland, Snowden, and Atlantic. Inter-row spacings of 76 and 91 cm with an intra-row spacing of 30 cm were evaluated in 1996 and 1997. Weed control treatments included a herbicide tank-mix of metribuzin and metolachlor, cultivation, and a hilling-only control. Common lambsquarters and total weed biomass were greater in the 76-cm row spacing than in the 91-cm row spacing across all cultivars in 1996 and 1997. In 1997, chemical control resulted in less weed biomass than both the hilling-only and cultivation treatments. Total marketable yield was greater in the 91-cm row spacing than in the 76-cm row spacing across cultivars in 1996, but was similar across row spacings in 1997. Net crop value was greater across cultivars in the 91-cm row spacing than in the 76-cm row spacing in 1996. Reduced weed biomass in 1996 and 1997, coupled with greater total marketable yield and net return in 1996, indicated that the 91-cm row spacing was the optimal row spacing for Russet Burbank, Goldrush, Russet Norkotah, Snowden, and Atlantic cultivars in 1996 and 1997. Similar yields and net crop value among weed control treatments in 1996 and 1997 indicated that cultivation and possibly even hilling-only areas within fields can be viable alternatives to herbicide use.     

Jacqueline Lee: A late-blight-resistant tablestock variety

Jacqueline Lee has a bright golden skin, yellow flesh, attractive oval shape, and excellent cooking qualities that make it suitable for tablestock use. In addition, it has been determined to have a high level of foliar resistance to the US-8 genotype ofPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary under Michigan field and greenhouse conditions. It is a full-season variety with vine maturity similar to Snowden. Jacqueline Lee has high yield potential. It has a high set (14–16 tubers/hill) of medium sized tubers that leads to 65%–80% marketable yield. Tubers are low in internal and external defects. It has a scab reaction similar to Atlantic, and the tubers have been observed to have a long dormancy.     

Skin set evaluation by skin shear measurements

Skin set of tubers, an indication of maturity, is a major reason for desiccating potato vines (Solanum tuberosum L.). A hand-held torque meter was evaluated for measuring tuber skin resistence to shearing as a measure of skin set. To demonstrate practical use of the torque meter to growers, shear resistance must be related to tuber skinning. ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Snowden’ potato tubers were individually measured for skin shear resistance followed by skinning. A linear relationship between skin shear resistance and tuber skinning was observed. The regression equations were Torque (mN*m) = 354 - (1.4 * Percent Skinning) for Atlantic in 1995 and Torque (mN*m) = 404 - (2.2 * Percent Skinning) for Snowden in 1996. The objective measuring of shear resistance was directly related to the more subjective measuring of tuber skinning with an R-square of 0.83. In 1995, harvested Atlantic tubers from desiccated plants were measured for skinning and resistance to torque. Skinning decreased and torque resistance increased during the 3-wk period after the initial desiccation treatment. However, skinning remained unacceptable at one and two weeks after desiccation regardless of treatment. Three weeks after desiccation, tubers from diquat-treated plots showed acceptable skin set levels and a torque resistance over 325 mN*m, which the model indicated would give acceptable skin set. Unacceptable skinning and a low torque resistance, less than 310 mN*m, remained a problem with vine flailing. Data indicated that resistance to torque exerted by the torque meter was an accurate measurement of skin set for harvested tubers. However, model regressions for the two round-white chipping cultivars, Atlantic and Snowden, differed. The torque meter can be used in the field or office. A major difficulty was maintaining a constant pressure on the tuber skin while applying the torque.     

Rate of Cooling Alters Chip Color,Sugar Contents,and Gene Expression Profiles in Stored Potato Tubers

When stored at temperatures below 10 °C, potatoes accumulate sucrose and the reducing sugars glucose and fructose. This process, cold-induced sweetening, has been studied extensively because potatoes with elevated reducing sugar contents produce undesirable, dark-colored products and acrylamide, a suspected carcinogen, during high-temperature cooking. Potatoes in commercial storages are cooled slowly, but many research studies have used potatoes cooled rapidly. In this study, effects of cooling rate and variety on chip color, sugars, and gene expression were examined. Sucrose and reducing sugar contents were substantially lower in slowly cooled than in rapidly cooled tubers of ‘Snowden’ and “MegaChip’ for the first 11 weeks after cooling to 3 °C began. Differences in gene expression for VInv, β-amylase, SPS, AGPase and GBSS were observed between cooling treatments and varieties. Overall, the data showed that cooling rate, time in storage, and variety influenced multiple aspects of cold-induced sweetening.     

Influence of seedpiece spacing and population on yield, internal quality, and economic performance of Atlantic, Superior, and Snowden potato varieties in eastern North Carolina

In recent stand assessment surveys on North Carolina farms, potato plant stands averaged only 67% of target populations. In response to these findings, this study was designed to determine the effects of seed-piece spacing and varying seedpiece populations on yield, internal quality, and economics of three potato varieties commonly grown in North Carolina: Atlantic; Snowden; and Superior. The three varieties responded differently to changes in spacing and population. Atlantic was sensitive to differences in spacing and populations, with reduced yields of grade A tubers as spacing increased above 23 cm. Atlantic was not able to compensate for wide (46 cm) spacing, even when seed-piece populations were high (doubles planted every 46 cm). Yield of B tubers was greater for 15 cm spacing and decreased significantly as spacing was increased. Yield of Superior was affected less by increases in spacing than decreases in population. Superior was able to compensate for wide gaps in spacing if seedpiece populations were high. Superior produced more B tubers at the 15 cm spacing, and less at the 46 cm spacing. Yield of grade A Snowden tubers did not differ with spacing or population; however, there were more B tubers in the 15 cm, 23 cm, and 46 cm (doubles) treatments than the wider spacing treatments. Incidence of hollow heart and heat necrosis increased in Atlantic in treatments that tended to have larger tubers. Economic analyses of data suggest that growers can significantly increase profit/hectare by optimizing spacing and populations with Atlantic and seedpiece populations in Superior.     

Pike: A full season scab and golden nematode resistant chipstock variety

Pike is a chipstock variety released jointly by the Cornell and Pennsylvania Experiment Stations in March 1996. Pike has a specific gravity comparable to Atlantic and the ability to produce light-colored chips after 7 C storage. Most of the chip color data were taken in December, January, and February. It has scab resistance comparable to that of Superior and is golden nematode resistant. It is a full season variety, somewhat earlier than Snowden. In 23 trials in New York, internal necrosis and hollow heart of Pike was 5% compared to 18% for Atlantic. When grown at high temperatures, Pike is susceptible to a unique expression o f heat necrosis that is net-like in appearance which is different from the internal brown spot of Atlantic. The yield has been about 95% of the yield of Atlantic.     

Dakota Pearl: An attractive, bright white-skinned, cold-chipping cultivar with tablestock potential

Dakota Pearl (ND2676-10) is a medium-maturing chipping cultivar with uniform, round, bright white-skinned tubers with shallow eyes. Dakota Pearl has the ability to produce commercially acceptable chips following long-term storage at 5.5 C without the need for reconditioning. It yields well under both dryland and irrigated trial conditions in North Dakota. North Central Regional Potato Variety Trial and Snack Food Association Trial results indicate it has wide adaptability. Yield and specific gravity under dryland conditions are similar to Norchip; Dakota Pearl has a low percentage of external defects. Average set is 12 to 14 tubers per hill. Dakota Pearl demonstrates wide consumer appeal as a tablestock cultivar due to attractive tuber appearance and bright-white skin. Sensory evaluation scores for baking, boiling, and microwaving are comparable to those of standard chip cvs Atlantic, NorValley, and Snowden. The specific gravity of Dakota Pearl is similar to cvs Norchip and NorValley, lower than for Atlantic or Snowden. Total glycoalkaloid levels are low, at 1.5 mg/100 g fresh tuber tissue. The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station released Dakota Pearl on 23 April 1999.     

Monticello: A mid-season variety with good tuber appearance and chipping potential from mid-to long-term storage

Monticello (NY102), a new medium-maturing, roundwhite chipping variety was released in 2003 by the University of Maine and Cornell University. It is primarily intended for use in the chipping industry, especially from mid-to long-term storage. Its ability to chip from relatively long-term storage, low storage weight loss, and relatively long tuber dormancy should be particularly valuable. Tubers have shown a good ability to recondition and regain good chip color after periods of stress in storage. Monticello’s specific gravity typically averages only a few points lower than Atlantic, a variety that is widely used for out-of-field chipping in the eastern U.S. Chip color of Monticello has been very good from short-, mid-, and long-term storage. It has been grown successfully in commercial-scale tests in Maine since 1999 with combined seed and chipping production of more than 37 and 60 ha during 2001 and 2002, respectively. Research and commercial-scale trials in Maine have generally produced favorable yield and quality results relative to other storage chippers like Snowden. The tubers are bright and attractive with relatively few external defects. Tuber size tends to be fairly small and is ideal for chipping. Sensory panel tests have also shown that Monticello is good for boiling and baking. Although ideally suited for chipping, the fresh market may serve as a secondary market for this variety because of its typically good external appearance and cooking quality scores. Monticello has moderate to good common scab resistance and is resistant to golden nematode. It is moderately susceptible to blackspot bruise, powdery scab, and typical foliar diseases of potato. Although tubers can develop hollow heart and internal heat necrosis, Monticello is typically much less susceptible than Atlantic.     

Acrylamide Formation in Processed Potatoes as Affected by Cultivar,Nitrogen Fertilization and Storage Time

The affirmation of acrylamide as a probable carcinogen by the European Food Safety Authority has reinforced the need to lower acrylamide content in fried potato products. Selected for low reducing sugars and acrylamide-forming potential, recently released cultivars ‘Alpine Russet’, ‘Dakota Trailblazer’, and ‘Ivory Crisp’ were evaluated for their processing quality when grown with varying nitrogen (N) fertilizer regimes. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of N fertilizer rate (34, 135, 202, 269 and 336 kg ha^?1) on tuber glucose and acrylamide concentration following processing of new cultivars relative to standard cultivars ‘Russet Burbank’ and ‘Snowden’ at harvest, and after 3, 6 and 9 months of storage at 7.2 °C over 2 years. Glucose and acrylamide responses to N rate were similar for chip cultivars, which linearly decreased in 2011, and quadratically increased then decreased in 2012 with increasing N rate. The N rate effect on French fry glucose concentration varied by cultivar and either decreased or did not respond to elevated N rate. Glucose and acrylamide concentrations of chip cultivars generally increased during storage, with a dramatic increase in ‘Snowden’ resulting from senescence sweetening after 9 months of storage. Environmental conditions significantly affected glucose and acrylamide responses of French fry cultivars to storage time. Glucose and acrylamide concentrations of all French fry cultivars generally increased during storage in 2011. In contrast, glucose concentrations of French fry cultivars were stable or increased, while acrylamide concentrations generally decreased during storage in 2012. The relationship between chip color and glucose concentration was significant, but differed by year. Glucose and acrylamide concentrations of French fry and chip cultivars were significantly correlated (R²?=?0.52 and 0.66, in 2011 and 2012, respectively). Generally, acrylamide in fried potato products can be minimized by using low reducing sugar cultivars supplied with a N fertilizer rate that optimizes yield and quality during growing seasons with minimal environmental stress.     

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.     

Drip as Alternative Irrigation Method for Potato in Florida Sandy Soils

Seepage irrigation is the most common irrigation system for potato production in Florida, which relies on control of the water table to irrigate the crop. A 2-year trial was established to evaluate the feasibility of drip irrigation as an alternative to seepage for potato production. The performance of ‘Atlantic’, ‘Fabula’, and ‘Red LaSoda’ varieties were evaluated by comparing two drip tape installation depths, surface (SUR) and subsurface (SUB) with seepage (SEP). The overall potato total yield was 25.3; 19.2 and 29.9 Mg ha^?1 for SUR, SUB and SEP, respectively. The SUR and SEP treatments yielded similarly for ‘Fabula’ in both years and ‘Atlantic’ in 2011. The ‘Red LaSoda’ consistently obtained lower yields under both drip treatments compared to SEP. Conversely, drip irrigation promoted significant reduction of the incidence of tuber physiological disorders such as brown center, hollow heart, and internal heat necrosis.     

Yankee Chipper: A new golden nematode resistant potato variety with wide adaptation in the northeastern United States

The Yankee Chipper potato is a medium maturing variety with round to oblong, smooth, white-skinned tubers. Acceptable yields, good dry matter and light chip color characterize this widely adapted variety. It is resistant to golden nematode and virus X, and tubers do not show the net necrosis associated with leafroll virus infection.     

Coastal Chip: A chipping potato variety resistant to heat stress

Coastal Chip is a medium-late maturing potato chipping variety suitable for production in locations along the east coast of the United States where heat stress reduces internal quality of tubers. It yields as well as the variety Atlantic but is not as susceptible to heat necrosis. The specific gravity of Coastal Chip averages approximately 0.010 less than Atlantic at locations subject to heat stress. In the seed producing areas of Maine it’s specific gravity averages approximately 0.005 less than that of Atlantic. Tubers are round, netted-skinned, and have moderately deep stem and bud ends. Chips from Coastal Chip are slightly lighter in color than those produced by Atlantic. In mid-Atlantic states where heat stress adversely affects chip color Coastal Chip processes into chips for a slightly longer period of time after harvest than does Atlantic. Glycoalkaloid content of Coastal Chip averaged 7.9 mg/100 g fresh tissue. Sunburned (green) tubers of Coastal Chip develop purple streaks that remain following processing. Hills must be properly covered to reduce losses. Coastal Chip is resistant to race A of the golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) and potato virus A. It is tolerant to Verticillium wilt, more susceptible to common scab and Rhizoctonia than Atlantic and susceptible to potato virus X.     

Validation of tuber blight (Phytophthora infestans) prediction model

Potato tuber blight caused by Phytophthora infestans accounts for significant losses of tubers in storage. Despite research on infection and management of tuber blight, there is paucity of information on the prediction of the occurrence tuber blight or modelling of tuber infection by P. infestans under field conditions. A tuber blight prediction model was developed in New York in experiments conducted using cultivars Allegany, NY101, and Katahdin in 1998 and 1999. This model was validated using data collected from the potato cultivar Snowden in field experiments in Laingsburg, Michigan from 2000 to 2009. In both New York and Michigan experiments, disease was initiated by artificial inoculation of cultivars with a US-8 isolate of P. infestans. Mean leaf area affected ranged from 0 to 94% at New York, and 0 to 93% at Michigan. At New York and Michigan, mean tuber blight incidences ranged from 1 to 40% and 0 to 15%, respectively. In the validation of the model using data collected at Laingsburg, Michigan, the model correctly predicted tuber blight incidence in 7 out of 9 years. Comparison of observed with predicted values indicated that slopes of the regression line between observed and predicted germination and infection data were not significantly different (P > 0.3547). Correlation coefficient between observed and predicted values was high (r² > 0.65) and the coefficient of variation of the residuals of error was about 12%. Although inoculum availability is assumed in the model, incorporation of relationships of inoculum density, propagule survival in soil, and tuber blight incidence would greatly improve the prediction of tuber blight under field conditions.     

Tuber yield, storability, and quality of Michigan cultivars in response to nitrogen management and seedpiece spacing

Information is required on nitrogen (N) fertility and seedpiece management for new cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Interactions amongst N fertilizer rate, genotype, and seedpiece spacing are complex, and can affect tuber yield, quality, and storability as well as N fertilizer efficiency. A field study was carried out in 2001 and 2002 at MSU Montcalm Research Farm in central Michigan. Tuber yields and post-harvest quality characteristics were evaluated for five potato genotypes (MSG227-2, MSE192-8Rus, Jacqueline Lee, Liberator, and Snowden) in response to a factorial combination of three N levels (200 kg N ha^-1, 300 kg N ha^-1-, and 400 kg N ha^-1) and two seedpiece spacings, narrow (0.20 m or 0.25 m) and wide (0.33 m or 0.38 m). Narrow seedpiece spacing consistently produced the highest U.S. No. 1 yields in all genotypes tested (37 and 34 t ha^-1, narrow vs wide spacing, respectively). There was a tradeoff between seedpiece spacing and N level in 2001 as tuber yields were enhanced by higher N levels at wide seedpiece spacing, but not at narrow spacing. In 2002, tuber yield was not enhanced, but petiole nitrate-N and tuber-N increased as N fertilization increased. Genotype was the major factor that influenced tuber quality characteristics at harvest and for stored tubers (e.g., specific gravity, internal defects, bruising, chip color rating, sucrose, and glucose). Spacing had minimal effects, whereas higher levels of N slightly reduced specific gravity both years, reduced internal defects in 2001 and enhanced sucrose at harvest in 2002. The cultivars tested demonstrated excellent storage characteristics for different N fertility levels and seedpiece spacing combinations. Overall, the recommended N fertilizer level for moderately long-duration potato cultivars in Michigan (200 kg N ha^-1) and a narrow seedpiece spacing optimized yield and tuber quality performance while conserving N fertilizer.