Western Russet: A New Potato Variety with Excellent Fresh Market and Frozen-fried Processing Quality and Field Resistance to Common Scab and PVY^sup o^

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

ABSTRACT

Western Russet, designated experimentally as A7961-1, and resulting from the cross A68113-4 x BelRus, was released in 2004 by the USDA/ARS and the agricultural experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The foliage of Western Russet is spreading, with medium-sized olive-green leaves and abundant white flowers. The tubers are tan, with medium russet skin, oblong shape, a slightly prominent eyebrow, white flesh, and distinctly visible pith. Western Russet was compared with Russet Burbank in trials across the Pacific Northwest for yield, quality, and disease response. In general, Western Russet produced lower total yields than Russet Burbank, but on average and depending on location, similar U.S. No. 1 yields. When observed for defect problems, Western Russet exhibited resistance to second growth, growth cracks, shatter bruise, stem-end discoloration, and heat necrosis, moderate resistance to hollow heart, and moderate susceptibility to blackspot bruise. In product quality tests, Western Russet was rated similar to Russet Burbank for french fry and dehydrated potato flake quality and slightly inferior for baked potato quality. In replicated evaluations, Western Russet was found to have good field resistance to common scab and PVY^sup o^, and moderate resistance to verticillium wilt and tuber net necrosis caused by PLRV. It demonstrated susceptibility to late blight, foliar PLRV, dry rot, soft rot, and tuber early blight. Biochemical analysis of Western Russet tubers showed markedly higher vitamin C content than those of Russet Burbank. Tuber glycoalkaloid concentration in tubers produced in a 1988 trial was 1.0 mg 100 g^sup -1^.

Accepted for publication 11 October 2005.

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

Abbreviation: RHSCC = Royal Horticulture Society Color Chart.

RESUMEN

En el a�o 2004 USDA/ARS y las Estaciones Experimentales Agr�colas de Idaho, Oregon y Washington liberaron el cultivar Western Russet, designado experimentalmente A7961-1, resultante del cruzamiento de A68113-4 x BelRus. El follaje de Western Russet es extendido, eon hojas de tamano mediano de color verde olivo y abundantes flores blancas. Los tub�rcules son bronceados de piel casi rosada, oblongos, con ojos ligeramente prominentes, pulpa blanca y m�dula claramente visible. Se hicieron pruebas comparativas de Western Russet con Russet Burbank a lo largo del Pac�fico noroccidental para determinar rendimiento, calidad y respuesta a enfermedades. En general, Western Russet produjo rendimientos totales menores que Russet Burbank, pero en promedio y dependiendo de la localidad, rendimientos similares de US No 1. Cuando se hicieron observaciones sobre defectos, Western Russet mostro resistencia a crecimiento secundario, rajaduras de crecimiento, magulladuras por golpe, decoloraci�n de la base y necrosis por calor, resistencia moderada a la mancha negra. En pruebas sobre calidad del producto, se consider� a Western Russet similar a Russet Burbank para papa frita y hojuelas de papa deshidratada y ligeramente inferior en calidad para horneado. En repetidas evaluaciones se encontr� que Western Russet tiene una buena resistencia de campo a la sarna com�n y al PVY^sup o^, resistencia moderada a marchitez por Verticillium y a necrosis en red del tub�rculo causado por PLRV. Demostro susceptibilidad al tiz�n tard�o, PLRV foliar, pudrici�n seca y tiz�n temprano del tub�rculo. El analisis bioqu�mico de los tub�rculos de Western Russet mostro marcadamente un mayor contenido de vitamina C que Russet Burbank. La concentraci�n de glicoalcaloides en el tub�rculo en una prueba en 1988 fue de 1.0 mg 100 g^sup -1^.

INTRODUCTION

'Western Russet', released in 2004 by the experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, was first selected at Aberdeen, ID, in 1981. Designated A7961-1, it originated from the 1979 cross A68113-4 x BelRus (see pedigree in Figure 1). Parent A68113-4 was released as Verticillium-wilt-resistant germplasm by the USDA/ARS (Aberdeen, ID) breeding program in 1990 (Corsini et al. 1990). 'BelRus', with immunity to PVA and resistance to PLRV induced net necrosis, was released in 1978 by the USDA/ARS (Beltsvffle, MD) and cooperating state breeding programs (Webb et al. 1981). Prominent varieties included in Western Russet parentage are 'Early Gem' (Stevenson et al. 1955), 'Penobscot' (Simpson and Akeley 1964), 'Norgold Russet' (Johansen 1965), 'Kennebec' (Akeley et al. 1948), and 'Katahdin' (Clark and Lombard 1951). 'Russet Burbank' (Clark and Lombard 1951) is ancestral to two of four grandparents, namely A589-65 and A6334-17.

Western Russet progressed through 12-hill, preliminary, intermediate, and advanced yield trials in Idaho from 1982 to 1985. From 1986 to 1989, it was evaluated in Tri-state and Western Regional Cooperative Trials in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, California, and New Mexico. Prior to release, seed increases and commercial trials were conducted in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Release documents were completed in 2004.