GemStar Russet: A Potato Variety with High Yield, Good Culinary Quality, Excellent Fresh Market Appearance, and Resistance to Common Scab

American Journal of Potato Research, Mar/Apr 2006 by Love, S L, Novy, R G, Whitworth, J, Corsini, D L, Et al

ABSTRACT

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^sup 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^sup -1^.

Accepted for publication 14 October 2005.

ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS: Solanum tuberosum, variety release, cultivar, disease resistance, breeding

Abbreviation: RHSCC = Royal Horticulture Society Color Chart

RESUMEN

En el ano 2004 el USDA/ARS y las Estaciones Experimentales Agricoles de Idaho, Oregon y Washington liberaron la variedad GemStar Russet derivada del cruzamiento de Gem Russet x A8341-5. El follaje de GemStar Russet es amarillo verdoso oscuro, extendido, con hojas grandes y abundantes flores blancas. Los tub�rcules son pardos, mediana a fuertemente rojizos, oblongos con prominencia del ojo ligeramente pronunciada, pulpa blanca y m�dula indistinguible. GemStar Russet ha sido comparada con Russet Burbank y Russet Norkotah en pruebas realizadas a lo largo del Pac�fico nor-occidental para determinar rendimiento, calidad y respuesta a enfermedades. Con excepci�n de localidades del sur de Idaho, en general, GemStar Russet dio rendimientos totales ligeramente inferiores a Russet Burbank, pero mucho mayor rendimiento de US No 1. Comparado con Russet Norkotah, GemStar Russet produjo un rendimiento total similar y de US No 1 en pruebas de cosecha temprana, pero totales m�s altos y rendimiento de US No 1 en pruebas de cosecha tardia. Cuando se hicieron observaciones para determinar defectos, GemStar Russet exhibe resistencia a crecimiento secundario, rajaduras de crecimiento y decoloraci�n de la base del tub�rcule, resistencia moderada a mancha negra y magulladuras por golpe, pero un alto nivel de susceptibilidad al coraz�n vac�o. En pruebas de calidad del producto GemStar Russet fue calificado como superior a Russet Burbank para papa frita y similar para papa horneada. Se encontr� que GemStar Russet es inmune al virus PVX, resistente a la sarna com�n y sarna polvorienta, moderadamente resistente a la marchitez por Verticillium, necrosis reticulada del tub�rculo causada por el virus PLRV y mancha corchosa anillada. Demostr� susceptibilidad al tiz�n tard�o, PLRV, pudrici�n seca, pudrici�n blanda y susceptibilidad extrema a PVY^sup o^. El an�lisis bioquimico de los tub�rcules de GemStar Russet dio un alto contenido de prote�na y mucho m�s alto de vitamina C que los de Russet Burbank o Russet Norkotah. El promedio de tres a�os sobre concentraci�n de glicoalcaloides en el tub�rculo fue de 1.5mg 100g^sup -1^.

INTRODUCTION

'GemStar Russet', released in 2004 by the agricultural experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and by the USDA Agricultural Research Service was first selected at Aberdeen, ID, in 1992. Designated A9014-2, it originated from a 1990 cross of 'Gem Russet' (Love et al. 2002) and A8341-5 (see pedigree in Figure 1). The parent A8341-5 is a breeding clone with long, russet tubers and resistance to blackspot bruise. Prominent varieties included in the parentage (some beyond four generations) are 'Atlantic' (Webb et al. 1978), 'Green Mountain' (Clark and Lombard 1951), 'Lemhi Russet' (Pavek et al. 1981), 'Nooksack' (Hoyman and Holland 1974), 'Norgold Russet' (Johansen 1965), 'Russet Norkotah' (Johansen et al. 1988), and 'Viking' (Johansen et al. 1964). 'Russet Burbank' (Clark and Lombard, 1951) is ancestral to all four grandparents.