Alta Russet: An Early-Maturing, High-Quality Russet Cultivar for Wedge-Cut French Fry Production

American Journal of Potato Research, May/Jun 2004 by Lynch, D R, Kawchuk, L M, Chen, Q, Konschuh, M, Et al

ABSTRACT

Alta Russet (Russet Nugget x 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.

RESUMEN

Alta Russet (Russet Nugget x Ranger Russet) es un cultivar precoz de alto rendimiento y excelente calidad de procesamiento (color de fritura y materia seca) que junto con el tamano y forma del tuberculo es ideal para la elaboracion de papa frita de corte triangular. En pruebas regionales en el oeste canadiense, cosechadas 110 dias despues de la siembra, el rendimiento del nuevo cultivar fue similar y la gravedad especifica superior a Russet Burbank. En pruebas de cosecha multiple llevadas a cabo en fechas diferentes en Alberta meridional (Canada), bajo condiciones de riego, el rendimiento de Alta Russet fue superior al de Russet Burbank y Shepody y similar a Ranger Russet (Amisk), cuando se cosecho 95 y 110 dias despues de la siembra. La gravedad especifica del tuberculo del nuevo cultivar fue superior a Russet Burbank, Shepody y Ranger Russet (Amisk) 95 dias despues de la siembra. A los 110 dias de la siembra, la gravedad especifica del tuberculo fue similar a Ranger Russet (Amisk), pero superior a Russet Burbank y Shepody. El color de la fritura fue generalmente superior a Russet Burbank en pruebas regionales en el oeste canadiense y en las pruebas de cosecha multiple fue general mente similar a Russet Burbank, Shepody y Ranger Russet (Amisk). Alta Russet produce color excelente de fritura despues de un periodo largo de almacenamiento a 8 C y color aceptable a 6 C. En todas las pruebas se presentaron a nivel muy bajo, defectos externos e internos del tuberculo. Alta Russet es resistente a la sarna comun y a la marchitez causada por Verticillium, moderadamente resistente al tizon temprano y a la marchitez por Fusarium y susceptible a la pudricion seca por Fusarium y al tizon tardio. El nuevo cultivar muestra sintomas bien evidentes cuando esta infectado por la bacteria que causa pudricion anillada.

Accepted for publication 17 February 2004.

ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS: common scab, Verticillium wilt, yield, storage, fry color

INTRODUCTION

The cross was made at the Lethbridge Research Centre in 1987 between Russet Nugget (female), a late-maturing, high-yielding russet cultivar with excellent french fry quality, and Ranger Russet (male), an early maincrop variety with excellent midseason yield and french fry quality (Figures 1 and 2), and tested under the experimental designation V0266-8. Russet Nugget is resistant to common scab, PLRV-induced net necrosis, verticillium wilt, early blight, hollow heart, and blackspot bruise. Ranger Russet is resistant to PVY, PVX, hollow heart, "sugar end," and also net necrosis, but susceptible to blackspot bruise. The first four field generations of selection occurred at the Vauxhall Research Substation with subsequent evaluation in the Western Canadian Regional Potato trials (1992-1998, 2000-2001), a multi-harvest trial conducted at the Vauxhall Research Substation (2000-2001) and long-term storage trials (2000/01-2001/02). The clone was offered to the Western Canadian Potato Consortium in 1999 and accessed on an exclusive basis by Alberta Seed Potato Inc.(ASPI). From 1999 to 2002 Alta Russet was tested in commercial plots in Alberta (Canada) and Washington State (USA) by ASPI and Lamb Weston Inc. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Lethbridge Research Centre) signed a sole license with ASPI in 2002. Alta Russet was registered in Canada on 29 May 2003 (Certificate #5656) and filing for Plant Breeder's Rights in Canada was accepted on 11 April 2003 with protective direction (Application #03-3558). Plant Variety Protection in the USA will be pursued in 2003. The rights are held by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.