Source: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
POTATO VARIETY DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHWEST
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1003816
Grant No.
2014-34141-22332
Project No.
WNP00824
Proposal No.
2014-05913
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
AN
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2014
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2017
Grant Year
2015
Project Director
Knowles, N. R.
Recipient Organization
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
240 FRENCH ADMINISTRATION BLDG
PULLMAN,WA 99164-0001
Performing Department
Horticulture
Non Technical Summary
Developing new varieties is an effective strategy to combat ever-increasing stress and pest problems, improve production and utilization efficiency, and maintain the competitiveness of the US potato industry. Among the genetic improvements needed are better fresh market and processing quality, resistance to major environmental stresses, insect pests and diseases, more efficient utilization of water and nutrients, improved storability, and lowered production costs. The purpose of this research is to release and commercialize new potato varieties that will directly benefit all segments of the Northwest potato industry and indirectly benefit all US producing regions. The strategy is to identify traits, make crosses, and apply selection pressures that will increase the probability of developing varieties that can be produced and utilized more efficiently than existing varieties. Appropriate breeding goals include high yield, improved processing quality, genetic resistance to major pests and diseases, higher levels of resistance to stresses, increased nutrient use efficiency, improved human nutritional value, and high tuber quality. An additional environmental benefit comes with reduced use of pesticides, water, and fertilizers, which are normal byproducts of improved varieties. This major objective is accompanied by myriad minor objectives involving germplasmenhancement, germplasm production, selection procedures, disease and stress screening, variety trial design and conduct, seed increases, management studies, and commercial evaluations. Each objective is to be carried out by the Northwest institution(s) best equipped to complete the associated tasks. A heavy element of interdependence among all institutions is essential in achieving the outlined objectives.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2011310108135%
2021310108135%
2031310108110%
2041310108110%
2051310108110%
Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1310 - Potato;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding;
Goals / Objectives
The primary objective of this research is to release and commercialize new potato varieties that will directly benefit all segmentsof the Northwest potato industry. Specific project objectives are as follows:(1) Develop, select and evaluate potato germplasm for various market classes, including dual-purpose russets (both processing and fresh use), single-purpose processing russets (e.g. solely dehydration or processing into fries), early maturing russets for fresh-pack, specialty tablestock (selections with red, yellow or purple skin and/or flesh), and cold-sweetening resistant chippers;(2) Evaluate end-use quality of advanced selections and identify potential varieties with respect to processing and fresh use merit;(3) Conduct associated research that will improve the efficiency of cultivar development, including the use of molecular techniques, such as marker-assisted selection, to speed the transfer of desirable traits to the cultivated potato and the genetic analysis of traits of importance to the potato industry;(4) Evaluate breeding material under typical, as well as under more severe disease conditions and identify commercially acceptable varieties with improved disease and pest resistance;(5) Develop cultural management guidelines for newly released varieties to facilitate their adoption and utilization and maximize production efficiency and profitability;(6) Increase and maintain seed stocks free of viruses and other pathogens for distribution to representatives of the potato industry interested in evaluating breeding material.The expected outputs include new potato varieties that provide profitable and sustainable production for the grower, improved competitiveness for the Northwest and US potato industries, a healthy and inexpensive food supply for American consumers, and an improved environment.
Project Methods
In conjunction with USDA/ARS researchers, the latest molecular and breeding techniques will be used to enhance germplasmfor quality, nutritional value, and stress and pest resistance. Germplasm with commercial potential will be selected from resultingpopulations. A series of state, tri-state, and regional trials will be used to evaluate the potential of breeding clones. The bestclones will be released for public use. Management studies will be conducted to provide production information on all newvarieties. High quality seed will be produced and disseminated for industry evaluation purposes. All procedures will be subject toreview by a Tri-state industry committee. The ultimate success of new varieties (outputs) from the program will be evaluatedbased on the extent of their adoption and utilization by industry.

Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers, processors, quick service restaurant industry, industry stakeholders (agricultural chemical and fertilizer companies, food processors, equipment manufacturers, etc.). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The NWPVD program provides continuing opportunities for training personnel in the science of breeding and genetics, variety development, agronomic management, and postharvest handling, storage and processing quality evaluation of a diverse array of germplasm. On average, the multi-state project engages two to four graduate students, three postdoctoral associates, five technical, and numerous undergraduate students in the project annually. Extension personnel and industry stakeholders also participate in efforts to grow and evaluate the clonal entries on an annual basis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the PNWVD program are disseminated through field days conducted at all sites (Washington, Idaho, and Oregon) and reports to the potato industry during the annual meetings of the WA & OR Potato industry (including a focused half-day session on potato variety development and the annual results from this program), and the ID potato industry. Stakeholders and personnel from major processing companies also attend the annual meetings of the Tri-State and Western Regional potato variety development committees where they receive a summary of the results, provide input into performance, and participate in selecting entries to be included in the following year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The following potato varieties were officially released by the Northwest Potato Variety Development (NWPVD) Program (also known regionally as the Tri-State Program) from 2011-16: Teton Russet, Palisade Russet, Huckleberry Gold, Yukon Nugget, Mountain Gem Russet, Targhee Russet, Payette Russet, Pomerelle Russet, TerraRosa, and Smilin' Eyes. All varieties developed by the NWPVD Program have been licensed to the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI), a non-profit organization working on behalf of the program to promote and market varieties since 2005. Detailed information about these and other NWPVD varieties can be found at www.pvmi.org. The NWPVD Program has had a major impact on the potato industry. The fresh market industry, French fry processors, and chippers have incorporated many Tri-State varieties into their production operations. Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Bannock Russet, Alturas and Clearwater Russet were the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th most widely grown varieties in Idaho in 2016, respectively (NASS, Crop Production, December, 2016), and accounted for 20% of the planted acreage in Idaho. Umatilla Russet, Ranger Russet, Alturas, Clearwater Russet, and Defender were the 2nd, 4th, 6th ,8th, and 11th most widely grown varieties in OR in 2016, respectively, accounting for 42% of total potato acreage. In WA, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Alturas, and Clearwater Russet ranked 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th, respectively in acreage and accounted for 36% of total potato acreage. Tri-State varieties represented 24% of the U.S. fall potato production and 17% of U.S. seed potato production in 2016. Varieties released by the NWPVD Program are now produced on 140,000 acres in the Pacific Northwest with value to growers estimated at approximately $620 million. On a national basis, Tri-State varieties were produced on 255,000 acres. With the recent acceptance of Clearwater Russet and Blazer Russet for processing by McDonald's on a regional basis, we expect the acreage of these varieties to increase significantly. The potential for improving the efficiency of N fertilizer use through more efficient varieties is substantial. Most varieties from the NWPVD Program have been evaluated for N use efficiency relative to the industry standard, Russet Burbank. Alturas, for example, requires about 40% less N than Russet Burbank for a given yield goal, while all of the others require about 20-25% less N per unit of yield produced. This increased efficiency would potentially reduce N applied in Northwest potato production systems by about 9.5 million pounds for an estimated economic savings to growers of approximately $7 million. The reduced use of N should also significantly reduce the potential for nitrate-contaminated ground water in the region. Therefore, reducing fertilizer applications by 20-40% per unit of yield would not only provide a considerable economic benefit to growers but would also provide environmental benefits and contribute significantly to the sustainability of potato production systems. As improved varieties are adopted, quality and production efficiency will continue to improve, fertilizer and pesticide inputs will decrease and environmental impact will diminish.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Yilma S, Brown CR, Charlton BA, Shock C, Hane D, James S, Mosley A, Rykbost K, Feibert E, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Stark J, Novy RG, Whitworth J, Pavek J, Corsini DL, Brandt T, Olsen N, Vales I, Sathuvalli V. 2017. Sage Russet: A new high yielding russet potato variety with cold-sweetening resistance, high vitamin C and protein contents and excellent fresh pack and processing potential. Am J Pot Res (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Herman DJ, LO Knowles and NR Knowles. 2017. Heat stress affects carbohydrate metabolism during cold-induced sweetening of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Planta 245:563-582.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sapinder Bali, Vidyasagar Sathuvalli, Chuck Brown, Rich Novy, Lorie Ewing, Jeanne Debons, David Douches, Joseph Coombs, Duroy Navarre, Jonathan Whitworth, Brian Charlton, Solomon Yilma, Clinton Shock, Jeff Stark, Mark Pavek, NR Knowles. 2017. Genetic Fingerprinting of Potato Varieties from the Northwest Potato Variety Development Program. Am J Pot Res 94:54-63.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Stark JC, Novy RG, Whitworth JL, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Thornton MK, Brown CR, Charlton BA, Sathuvalli V, Brandt TL, Olsen N. 2017. Pomerelle Russet: An early maturing potato variety with high yields of U.S. No. 1 tubers suitable for fresh market and early processing and resistance to potato mop top virus. Am J Pot Res (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Novy RG, Whitworth JL, Stark JC, Schneider B, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Knowles LO, Charlton BA, Sathuvalli V, Yilma S, Brown CR, Thornton M, Brandt TL, Olsen N. 2017. Payette Russet: a dual-purpose cultivar with cold-sweetening resistance, low acrylamide formation, and resistance to late blight and potato virus Y. Am J Pot Res 94: 38-53.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sathuvalli V, Brown CR, Yilma S, Charlton BA, Shock C, Quick R, Feibert E, Whitworth JL, Novy RG, Stark JC, Pavek MJ, Knowles NR, Navarre D, Debons J and I Vales. 2016. Yukon Nugget: A mid-season yellow skin, yellow flesh specialty potato with extreme resistance to potato virus X. Am J Pot Res 93: 602-608.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Herman DJ, Knowles LO and NR Knowles. 2016. Differential sensitivity of genetically related potato cultivars to treatments designed to alter apical dominance, tuber set and size distribution. Am J Pot Res 93:331-349 DOI 10.1007/s12230-016-9507-7.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Whitworth JL, Novy RG, Stark JC, Thornton MK, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Spear RR, Brown CR, Charlton BA, Sathuvalli V, Yilma S, Brandt TL, and N Olsen. 2016. Targhee Russet: a high yielding dual purpose long russet with tuber soft rot resistance. Am J Pot Res 93:189-201. DOI: 10.1007/s12230-016-9495-7
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stark JC, Novy RG, Whitworth JL, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Thornton MK, Spear RR, Brown CR, Charlton BA, Sathuvalli V, Olsen N, andTL Brandt. 2016. Mountain Gem Russet: a medium to late season potato variety with high early and full season yield potential and excellent fresh marketcCharacteristics. Am J Pot Res 93:158-171. DOI 10.1007/s12230-015-9493-1.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Miller JC Jr., Scheuring DC, Koym JW, Holm DG, Pavek JJ, Novy RG, Whitworth JL, Stark JC, Charlton BA, Yilma S, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Nunez JJ, Shock CC, and CR Brown. 2015. 11ATTX961014-1R/Y a.k.a. Sierra RoseTM: A Red-Skin, Yellow-Flesh Potato Cultivar for the Specialty/Gourmet Market. Am J Pot Res 91:447-458. DOI 10.1007/s12230-015-9460-x
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Zommick, D.H., L.O. Knowles, M.J. Pavek and N.R. Knowles. 2014. In-season heat stress compromises postharvest quality and low temperature sweetening resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Planta 239:1243-1263. DOI 10.1007/s00425-014-2048-8
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Whitworth JL, Novy RG, Stark JC, Love SL, Thornton MK, Charlton BA, Yilma S, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, and X Wang. 2014. Huckleberry Gold: a high antioxidant purple-skin yellow-flesh specialty market cultivar with potato cyst nematode resistance (H1) and Potato virus X resistance (Nb and Rx1). Am J Pot Res 91:447-458. DOI 10.1007/s12230-014-9368-x.


Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers, processors, quick service restaurant industry, industry stakeholders (agricultural chemical and fertilizer companies, food processors, equipment manufacturers, etc.). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The NWPVD program provides continuing opportunities for training personnel in the science of breeding and genetics, variety development, agronomic management, and postharvest handling, storage and processing quality evaluation of a diverse array of germplasm. On average, the multi-state project engages two to four graduate students, three postdoctoral, five technical, and numerous undergraduate students in the project annually. Extension personnel and industry stakeholders also participate in efforts to grow and evaluate the clonal entries on an annual basis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the PNWVD program are disseminated through field days conducted at all sites (Washington, Idaho andOregon) and reports to the potato industry during the annual meetings of the WA/OR Potato industry (including a focused half-day session on potato variety development and the annual results from this program) and the ID potato industry. Stakeholders and personnel from major processing companies also attend the annual meetings of the Tri-State and Western Regional potato variety development committees where they receive a summary of the results, provide input into performance and participate in selecting entries to be included in the following year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Activities during the final reporting period include finishing postharvest assessment of the storage and culinary qualities of clones and cultivars grown in the Tri-State and Regional trials during the 2016 growing season. Based on the in-field and postharvest results from 2016, clones will then be selected for trials during the 2017 growing season. Decisions on which clones to be released as cultivars will be made by the 3 Tri-State Committee in January 2017. The 2017 trials will be established in April at all three sites across the Tri-State area for continuation of the NW Potato Variety Development Program.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The following ten potato varieties were officially released by the Northwest Potato Variety Development (NWPVD) Program (also known regionally as the Tri-State Program) from 2010-15: Gallatin Russet, Sage Russet, Teton Russet, Palisade Russet, Huckleberry Gold, Yukon Nugget, Mountain Gem Russet, Targhee Russet, Payette Russet, and Pomerelle Russet (see Table 1, Appendix, field 12). All varieties developed by the NWPVD Program have been licensed to the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI), a non-profit organization working on behalf of the program to promote and market varieties since 2005. Detailed information about these and other NWPVD varieties can be found at www.pvmi.org. The NWPVD Program has had a major impact on the potato industry. The fresh market industry, French fry processors, and chippers have incorporated many Tri-State varieties into their production operations. Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Bannock Russet and Alturas were the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th most widely grown varieties in Idaho in 2015, respectively (NASS, Crop Production, November, 2015), and accounted for 19% of the planted acreage in Idaho. Umatilla Russet, Ranger Russet, Alturas, and Clearwater Russet were the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 10th most widely grown varieties in WA in 2015, respectively, accounting for 29% of total acreage. In OR, Umatilla Russet, Ranger Russet, Alturas, Premier Russet, Clearwater Russet, and Modoc ranked 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th,and 9th, respectively, and accounted for 43% of total potato acreage. Moreover, Ranger, Umatilla, Alturas, Bannock, Clearwater, Alpine Russet and Modoc were the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 15th, 22nd and 26th most widely grown potato varieties in the U.S. fall production states in 2015. Tri-State varieties represented ~22% of the 2015 U.S. fall crop. Varieties released by the NWPVD Program are now produced on 135,000 acres in the Pacific Northwest with value to growers estimated at approximately $600 million. This impact is expected to increase as new varieties replace Russet Burbank, which accounted for 44% (236,527 A) of the 2015 ID, OR and WA potato crop. The potential for improving the efficiency of N fertilizer use through more efficient varieties is substantial. Most varieties from the NWPVD Program have been evaluated for N use efficiency relative to the industry standard, Russet Burbank. Yield responses of Alpine Russet, Alturas, Classic Russet, Clearwater Russet, Premier Russet, Umatilla Russet, Teton Russet and Palisade Russet to N rates were used to develop N fertilizer requirements based on specific yield goals. Alturas required about 40% less N than Russet Burbank for a given yield goal, while all of the others required about 20-25% less N per unit of yield produced. This increased efficiency would potentially reduce N applied in Northwest potato production systems by about 9 million pounds for an estimated economic savings to growers of approximately $6.5 million. The reduced use of N should also significantly reduce the potential for nitrate-contaminated ground water in the region. Therefore, reducing fertilizer applications by 20-40% per unit of yield would not only provide a considerable economic benefit to growers but would also provide environmental benefits and contribute significantly to the sustainability of potato production systems. As improved varieties are adopted, quality and production efficiency will continue to improve, fertilizer and pesticide inputs will decrease and environmental impact will diminish.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Novy RG, Whitworth JL, Stark JC, Schneider B, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Knowles LO, Charlton BA, Sathuvalli V, Yilma S, Brown CR, Thornton M, Brandt TL, Olsen N. 2016. Payette Russet: a dual-purpose cultivar with cold-sweetening resistance, low acrylamide formation, and resistance to late blight and potato virus Y. Am J Pot Res (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sathuvalli V, Brown CR, Yilma S, Charlton BA, Shock C, Quick R, Feibert E, Whitworth JL, Novy RG, Stark JC, Pavek MJ, Knowles NR, Navarre D, Debons J and I Vales. 2016. Yukon Nugget: A mid-season yellow skin, yellow flesh specialty potato with extreme resistance to potato virus X. Am J Pot Res (in press)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Herman DJ, Knowles LO and NR Knowles. 2016. Differential sensitivity of genetically related potato cultivars to treatments designed to alter apical dominance, tuber set and size distribution. Am J Pot Res 93:331-349 DOI 10.1007/s12230-016-9507-7.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Whitworth JL, Novy RG, Stark JC, Thornton MK, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Spear RR, Brown CR, Charlton BA, Sathuvalli V, Yilma S, Brandt TL, and N Olsen. 2016. Targhee Russet: a high yielding dual purpose long russet with tuber soft rot resistance. Am J Pot Res 93:189-201. DOI: 10.1007/s12230-016-9495-7
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stark JC, Novy RG, Whitworth JL, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Thornton MK, Spear RR, Brown CR, Charlton BA, Sathuvalli V, Olsen N, andTL Brandt. 2016. Mountain Gem Russet: a medium to late season potato variety with high early and full season yield potential and excellent fresh marketcCharacteristics. Am J Pot Res 93:158-171. DOI 10.1007/s12230-015-9493-1.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Knowles LO and NR Knowles. 2016. Optimizing tuber set and size distribution for potato seed (Solanum tuberosum L) expressing varying degrees of apical dominance. J Plant Growth Regul 35:574-585. DOI: 10.1007/s00344-015-9562-1


Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers, processors, quick service restaurant industry, industry stakeholders (agricultural chemical and fertilizer companies, food processors, equipment manufacturers, etc.). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The NWPVD program provides continuing opportunities for training personnel in the science of breeding and genetics, variety development, agronomic management, and postharvest handling, storage and processing quality evaluation of a diverse array of germplasm. On average, the multi-state project engages two to four graduate students, three postdoctoral, five technical, and numerous undergraduate students in the project annually. Extension personnel and industry stakeholders also participate in efforts to grow and evaluate the clonal entries on an annual basis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the PNWVD program are disseminated through field days conducted at all sites (Washington, Idaho and Oregon) and reports to the potato industry during the annual meetings of the WA/OR Potato industry (including a focused half-day session on potato variety development and the annual results from this program) and the ID potato industry. Stakeholders and personnel from major processing companies also attend the annual meetings of the Tri-State and Western Regional potato variety development committees where they receive a summary of the results, provide input into performance and participate in selecting entries to be included in the following year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The following twelve potato varieties were officially released by the Northwest Potato Variety Development (NWPVD) Program (also known regionally as the Tri-State Program) from 2009-15: Gallatin Russet, Owyhee Russet, Red Sunset, Crimson Red, Purple Pelisse, Sage Russet, AmaRosa, Teton Russet, Palisade Russet, Huckleberry Gold, Yukon Nugget and A84180-8. All varieties developed by the NWPVD Program have been licensed to the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI), a non-profit organization working on behalf of the program to promote and market varieties since 2005. Detailed information about these and other NWPVD varieties can be found at www.pvmi.org. The NWPVD Program has had a major impact on the potato industry. The fresh market industry, French fry processors, and chippers have incorporated many Tri-State varieties into their production operations. Ranger, Alturas, and Bannock Russet were the 3rd, 4th and 6th most widely grown varieties in ID in 2014, respectively (NASS, Crop Production, Nov. 2014), and accounted for 19% of planted acres in 2014. Umatilla, Ranger, Alturas and Clearwater Russet were the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 9th most widely grown varieties in WA in 2014, respectively, representing 38% of total acreage. In OR, Ranger, Alturas, Umatilla, Modoc and Clearwater ranked 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th, respectively, for 50% of total acreage in 2014. Moreover, Ranger, Umatilla, Alturas, Bannock, Clearwater, and Ivory Crisp were the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 14th and 22nd most widely grown potato varieties in the U.S. in 2014 and two additional Tri-State varieties ranked in the top 25. Tri-State varieties represented ~25% of the 2014 U.S. fall crop. Varieties released by the NWPVD Program are now produced on 143,000 acres in the Pacific Northwest with value to growers estimated at approximately $600 million. This impact is expected to increase as new varieties replace Russet Burbank, which accounted for 41% (213,471 A) of the 2014 ID, OR and WA potato crop. The potential for improving the efficiency of N fertilizer use through more efficient varieties is substantial. Most varieties from the NWPVD Program have been evaluated for N use efficiency relative to the industry standard, Russet Burbank. Yield responses of Alpine Russet, Alturas, Classic Russet, Clearwater Russet, Premier Russet, Umatilla Russet, Teton Russet and Palisade Russet to N rates were used to develop N fertilizer requirements based on specific yield goals. Alturas required about 40% less N than Russet Burbank for a given yield goal, while all of the others required about 20-25% less N per unit of yield produced. This increased efficiency would potentially reduce N applied in Northwest potato production systems by about 9 million pounds for an estimated economic savings to growers of approximately $6.5 million. The reduced use of N should also significantly reduce the potential for nitrate-contaminated ground water in the region. Therefore, reducing fertilizer applications by 20-40% per unit of yield would not only provide a considerable economic benefit to growers but would also provide environmental benefits and contribute significantly to the sustainability of potato production systems. As improved varieties are adopted, quality and production efficiency will continue to improve, fertilizer and pesticide inputs will decrease and environmental impact will diminish.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Miller JC Jr., Scheuring DC, Koym JW, Holm DG, Pavek JJ, Novy RG, Whitworth JL, Stark JC, Charlton BA, Yilma S, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, Nunez JJ, Shock CC, and CR Brown. 2015. 11ATTX961014-1R/Y a.k.a. Sierra RoseTM: A Red-Skin, Yellow-Flesh Potato Cultivar for the Specialty/Gourmet Market. Am J Pot Res 91:447-458. DOI 10.1007/s12230-015-9460-x
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Zommick, D.H., L.O. Knowles, M.J. Pavek and N.R. Knowles. 2014. In-season heat stress compromises postharvest quality and low temperature sweetening resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Planta 239:1243-1263. DOI 10.1007/s00425-014-2048-8
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Zommick, D.H., L.O. Knowles and N.R. Knowles. 2014. Tuber respiratory profiles during low temperature sweetening (LTS) and reconditioning of LTS-resistant and susceptible potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars. Postharvest Biol Tech 92:128-138.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Whitworth JL, Novy RG, Stark JC, Love SL, Thornton MK, Charlton BA, Yilma S, Knowles NR, Pavek MJ, and X Wang. 2014. Huckleberry Gold: a high antioxidant purple-skin yellow-flesh specialty market cultivar with potato cyst nematode resistance (H1) and Potato virus X resistance (Nb and Rx1). Am J Pot Res 91:447-458. DOI 10.1007/s12230-014-9368-x.