Progress Report to the Maine Potato Board Research Subcommittee

Progress Report to the Maine Potato Board Research Subcommittee

January 19, 2005

Project Title:

New Potato Variety Evaluation (Challenge Grant Program and Grower Trials)

2004 Growing Season

Investigators:

Gregory A. Porter and Paul C. Ocaya; Dept. of Plant, Soil & Environmental Sciences.

Executive Summary:

This project uses small-plot trials to select potato breeding lines with commercial potential for Maine growers and then facilitates commercial-scale grower trials of these promising lines. The grower trials provide important information on successful management practices and experiences growing, storing, and marketing the new varieties. This project, along with Challenge grants provided by the Maine Department of Agriculture, helps support the potato variety development efforts of commercial potato growers in Maine. During 2004, small-plot variety trials were conducted at three locations in Maine (Exeter, central Maine; Presque Isle, central Aroostook; St. Agatha, northern Aroostook). These trials were used to screen 184 new potato breeding lines of which a handful were selected for commercial-scale evaluation. Commercial-scale trials of AF1753-16, AF1808-18, B0766-3, U.E.C., NY102 (Monticello), and NY112 (Marcy) were conducted during 2004. We allocated a total of $10,500 in Challenge grants (funding provided by the Maine Department of Agriculture) directly to growers in support of these commercial tests. The grants went to 13 different growers (14 individual trials) and represented 174 acres of production. All growers have submitted a detailed report of management practices, yield, quality, and pest incidence. Each of the growers has been interviewed via phone or will be after the potatoes are moved from storage. Based on the research and commercial-scale results obtained during 2004, commercial-scale tests of AF1753-16 (a french fry processing line) should be continued. It has very high yields and good french fry processing characteristics, but can have high external defects incidence (sunburning, growth cracks). AF1808-18 (a dual-purpose long russet) was tested in 2004 with mixed results. It had some good traits, but also had excessive sunburn incidence. A decision on the future of this clone is pending. We recommend expanded commercial-scale testing of two promising lines, B0766-3 (a storage chipper) and NY112 (Marcy, a scab resistant, chipper). B0776-3 has only been commercially tested on seed farms to date. Marcy has outstanding yields, good scab resistance, and good chipping characteristics. It is late maturing, but a suitable alternative to Atlantic and Snowden. Commercial-scale tests of NY102 (Monticello) have been completed. It has done very well as a long-term storage chipper. Commercial-scale tests of U.E.C. (a round-white chipper) were discouraging in Maine during 2004. U.E.C. has been dropped by the seed grower.

Project Objectives:

1. To test new potato selections on commercial farms at three different locations in Maine.

2. To provide technical support for growers conducting commercial-scale tests of new varieties (in support of new variety development and challenge grants provided to growers).

Grant Received:

$5,000

Accomplishments to Date:

Small-plot Trials on Commercial Farms. Small-plot variety trials were conducted in central Maine (Exeter, Crane Farms, 48 lines and varieties) and northern Aroostook County (St. Agatha, Labrie Farms, 81 lines and varieties). This work compliments trials conducted at Aroostook Research Farm in Presque Isle. The central Maine trial is focused largely on selection for chipping use. The St. Agatha site is a selection site for russets, french fry processing types, and round-whites. It provides a great trial for common and powdery scab resistance and susceptibility. A summary of promising lines is present below and a detailed report from these small-plot variety trials is available upon request. The data are used in combination with data from Aroostook Research Farm and other trials around the eastern United States. The small-plot data are used to help the Maine, USDA-ARS, and New York breeding programs make decisions about lines that are worthy of entry into regional and commercial trials. The results are also used in variety descriptions and management profiles.

Selections that performed particularly well in the regional and advanced trials in 2004 and recent years were:

Chipping

AF2215-1 slightly netted skin, round to oblong tubers, medium maturity, high specific gravity, moderate to good yields, needs further testing

AF2497-2 smooth skin, round to oblong tubers, late vine maturity, moderate to good yields, fair appearance, needs further testing

AF2498-1 moderately smooth skin, round to oblong flattened tubers, medium vine maturity, moderate to good yields, fair chip color, good appearance, needs further testing

B1992-106 netted skin, round tubers, late vine maturity, moderate to good yields, fair appearance, few pick outs, needs further testing

NY126 moderately smooth skin, oblong to round tubers, medium to medium-late maturity, very good yields, yellow flesh, moderate specific gravity, resistant to blackspot bruise, possible dual-purpose, very promising.

NY128 moderately smooth to netted skin, mostly round tubers, medium to medium-late maturity, good yields, possible dual-purpose, needs further testing

W2265-25 slight net to moderately smooth skin, round to oblong tubers, medium-late vine maturity, moderate to good yields, fair chip color, needs further testing

Fresh market whites

AF1758-7 slight net to netted skin, round to oblong, medium-late to late, yields are comparable to Katahdin, but US#1 yields are much higher, low gravity, sizes quite well, resistant to blackspot, scab and powdery scab, very sensitive to postemergence metribuzin, may be shatter bruise susceptible, very promising.

AF2115-1 moderately smooth skin, round to oblong tubers, medium maturity, nice appearance, but questionable on yields, pick outs, and blackspot suceptibility.

AF2322-2 moderately smooth skin, round to oblong, medium-early, low gravity, pretty, susceptible to scab, needs further testing

AF2916-1 smooth skin, oblong to round, medium maturity, pretty, good yields, needs further testing (tested as VW9503-4 through 2003)

B1880-6 slight netted to netted, round to oblong tubers, medium-early maturity, acceptable appearance, few pick outs, could be a good alternative to Superior, needs further testing

NY125 pale yellow flesh, smooth to slightly netted skin, oblong to round, medium maturing, pretty, moderate to good yields, few pick outs, blackspot susceptibility is questionable, needs further testing

NY127 moderately smooth skin, mostly round, medium maturing, pretty, good yields, few pick outs, needs further testing

AF2321-3 slightly netted skin, oblong to round, medium-early maturing, marginal appearance, moderate yields, few pick outs, needs further testing

AF2376-5 moderately smooth skin, mostly round, late maturing, marginal appearance and yields, few pick outs, needs further testing

B1870-17 netted skin, mostly round, medium maturing, marginal appearance, good yields, few pick outs, needs further testing

B2024-10 slightly netted skin, mostly round, medium maturing, good appearance, scab susceptibily is a concern, needs further testing

Russets

Stampede Russet uniform and fairly heavily russeting, medium maturity, low specific gravity, good appearance, few pickouts, fresh market only, needs further testing

A9014-2 medium russeted skin, long tubers, medium-late maturity, pretty for a russet, can process for fries, possible dual-purpose, hollow heart susceptibility may be a problem, reportedly does not express foliar PVY symptoms, promising.

AF2278-1 nice russeting, medium maturity, good yields and appearance, hollow susceptbility may be a concern, needs further testing

AF2285-5 heavy russeting, late maturity, good yields and appearance, scab susceptibility may be a concern, needs further testing

AF2432-1 heavy russeting, late maturity, good yields and appearance, few pick outs, needs further testing

B1933-3 medium to heavily russeted skin, oblong to long tubers, medium maturity, can process for fries, possible dual-purpose, needs further testing

French Fry Processing

A9014-2 see above

A90586-11 netted skin, oblong to long tubers, late-maturing, can process for fries, late blight resistant, moderate to high yields, high gravity, size and appearance are questionable, blackspot susceptibility may be a problem

AF1753-16 will be named Reeve’s Kingpin, netted, very high yields, high specific gravity, large tuber size, marginal to acceptable fry color, resistant to blackspot bruise and hollow heart, can have excessive pickouts (sunburn and growth cracks), use 8-9" spacing, avoid high nitrogen rates

AF2407-1 white skin, long tubers, large tuber size, moderate yields, some scab, susceptibility, needs further testing

AF2426-1 netted skin, late maturity, good yields, fair appearance, gravity may be too low, needs further testing

W1836-3Rus medium russeted skin, oblong to long tubers, late maturity, can process for fries, good yields, skin texture and tuber length have not been consistent, shatter bruise may be a concern, needs further testing

Specialty

AC Sunbury moderately smooth to smooth skin, oblong to round, pale yellow flesh, medium-early maturity, very early sizing, pretty, yields are not high enough for full-season market, but might be good enough for very early market, may be susceptible to blackspot bruise.

B0984-1 red skin, nice color, moderately smooth to slightly netted skin, white flesh, round to oblong, moderate to high gravity, midseason to late maturity, pretty, moderate tuber size, skinning may be a problem, needs further testing

B1145-2 red skin, nice color, moderately smooth skin to slight net, white flesh, mostly round, low gravity, early maturity, low to moderate yields, very pretty, small tubers, promising

B1758-4 red skin, nice color, slightly netted skin, round to oblong, moderate gravity, medium-late to late maturity, very pretty, small tubers, promising

B1806-8 yellow-flesh, bright appearance, very pretty, moderately smooth to smooth skin, oblong to round, medium maturing, small to moderate-sized tubers, some scab and hollow heart susceptibility, may be susceptible to blackspot bruise, needs further testing

B1816-5 purple with yellow flesh, medium to dark skin color, slightly netted to moderately smooth skin, round to oblong, moderate gravity, early to medium maturity, good appearance, small tuber size, low to moderate yields, susceptibility to skinning may be a problem, promising

B2066-3 red skin, nice color, smooth skin, medium maturity, moderate yields and gravity, very pretty, susceptibility to skinning may be a problem, needs further testing

NDTX731-1R red skin, nice color, smooth to slightly netted skin, medium to medium-late maturity, good yields, low to moderate gravity, very pretty, white flesh, few pick outs, promising

NY126 Yellow flesh, dual-purpose, very promising. See chipping section for description.

2004 Challenge Grants and Commercial Trials. In addition to the support provided by the Maine Potato Board, the Maine Department of Agriculture provided $10,500 to support challenge grants directly to growers. Commercial-scale tests of AF1753-16, AF1808-18, B0766-3, NY102 (Monticello), NY112 (Marcy), and U.E.C. were conducted during 2004. We allocated a total of $10,500 directly to growers in support of these commercial tests. The grants went 13 different growers (14 individual trials) and represented 174 acres of production.

I did not visit growers farms during 2004 because there just wasn’t enough time to do so. All growers have submitted a detailed report of management practices, yield, quality, and pest incidence. I have also talked with most of the growers via phone. Later in the storage season, I will check with some of the growers to learn about their additional storing and marketing experiences with the new varieties. Table 1 summarizes the status of each line in the 2004 program. A brief summary of 2004 grower reports is presented in Table 2.

Table 1. Current status of experimental potato lines in the 2004 New Potato Variety Challenge Grant Program.

AF1753-16 A french fry processing line that is being named Reeve’s Kingpin. It could replace some Shepody production and perhaps some Russet Burbank use during the earlier part of the storage season. Commercial tests were favorable through 2002 and in 2004. Severe sunburning and moderate growth crack problems detracted from performance during the wet 2003 growing season. Strengths: outstanding yields, good tuber length, resistance to hollow heart, blackspot, net necrosis, and verticillium. Weaknesses: susceptible to scab, sunburning, and growth cracking; fry color can be darker than Shepody and Russet Burbank if kept in the field too long; tuber dormancy is fairly short. Licensed to McCain Foods during 2003 to develop it for french fry processing.

AF1808-18 A medium-maturing, dual-purpose russet with long tubers. Tubers of this clone have acceptable boil/bake scores and good appearance for fresh market. They can also produce acceptable fries. It has good resistance to net necrosis and moderate resistance to verticillium wilt, acid scab, and powdery scab. Yields in small-plot trials were not outstanding, but yields have been good in commercial trials conducted to date. Tubers tend to be large and some hollow heart can develop in larger tubers. Narrow spacings need to be used to control tuber size. AF1808-18’s big problem to date has been a frequent incidence of external defects, particularly sunburn. Sunburn incidence was a big problem in 2004 commercial trials.

B0766-3 A medium-maturing storage chipper with good adaptation to Maine and other eastern states. Has reasonable tuber appearance and moderate specific gravity for dual-purpose use. Commercial tests for seed production have been favorable to date. Strengths: very good storage chip color, acceptable yields and specific gravity, dual-purpose potential. Weaknesses: mostly too early to tell, may be moderately susceptible to shatter bruise and hollow heart, fairly short tuber dormancy. It has looked good in research trials and on seed growers farm’s to date, but commercial-scale chipping evaluation is needed. We want to conduct additional commercial-scale tests during 2005.

Marcy

(NY112) A late-maturing chipper with outstanding yields, good tuber size, and good scab resistance. Also resistant to golden nematode. Tuber are typically netted. Chip colors have generally been good from storage. Avoid late planting and high nitrogen rates with this one! Really good yields throughout the eastern region. It does get some internal heat necrosis in the Atlantic coastal states (but must less susceptible than Atlantic). Commercial tests on seed farms have been favorable to date. It was tested for chipping on one Maine farm during 2004 and the results were very promising. Strengths: high yields, acceptable specific gravity and storage chip color, very good scab resistance, nice tuber shape, few external defects. Weaknesses: late maturity, netted skin, can develop hollow heart (though typically less than Atlantic), may have some sensitivity to postemergence herbicides.

Monticello

(NY102) A medium maturing, high specific gravity storage chipper with scab resistance and good adaptation to Maine and several other eastern areas. Also resistant to golden nematode. Can chip well from long-term storage! Has good tuber appearance, good culinary scores, and few external defects, so it could go for dual-purpose use. Commercial tests have mostly been favorable to date; however, yields and tuber size have occasionally been disappointing under high stress (hot temperatures, low rainfall, low nitrogen) and some internal defect problems have occasionally been noted. It continued to do well in 2003 and 2004 commercial tests. Strengths: very long-term good storage chip color, good scab resistance, few external defects, high specific gravity, good tuber appearance, dual-purpose potential. Weaknesses: moderately susceptible to blackspot bruise and powdery scab, tuber size generally runs small, variable yield performance under high stress conditions (recommend irrigation, if possible). Jointly released by University of Maine and Cornell University during 2003.

UEC A medium-maturing storage chipper with good adaptation to Maine and other eastern states. Has reasonable tuber appearance and moderate specific gravity for dual-purpose use. Commercial tests for seed production were favorable until the 2004 growing season. It was discarded due to severe rot problems. Strengths: very good storage chip color, acceptable yields and specific gravity, dual-purpose potential. Weaknesses: rot in 2004, moderately susceptible to shatter bruise and hollow heart, fairly short tuber dormancy. Two commercial-scale chipping trials per year were conducted in Maine during 2002 and 2003. Yields of UEC were low due to poor rainfall in one 2002 test and the grower was not impressed. Performance was good in the second test. During 2003, despite weaker early vigor and stands, results in both chipping trials were reasonably good. This clone has now been discarded by the seed grower and future production will depend on interest in the market.

Variety Description and Management Profiles. Variety descriptions and management profiles are being developed for the successful varieties in the 2004 program and for several promising breeding lines (see attached example for NDTX731-1R). These profiles are developed based on breeding program data, small-plot yield trials, management experiments, and commercial experience. The variety descriptions will be made available on a website and a list of available profiles will be made available to growers and the UM Cooperative Extension. Hard copies of variety profiles will be sent to growers upon request.

Future Plans :

We hope to continue this program during the 2005 growing season with: 1) small-plot variety research trials conducted in Exeter, St. Agatha, and Presque Isle; 2) commercial challenge grants for the most promising lines identified from research trials. Our goal is to support 14 commercial trials during 2005 at $750 each. We will again request support for the grower grants ($10,500) from the Maine Department of Agriculture. The number of grants will be reduced proportionately depending on the level of grant support received.

We will continue to improve the focus of this program and to limit the commercial-scale tests to only the most promising lines based on research results.

Table 2. Summary of Commercial Trial Results for the 2004 Challenge Grant Program. Storage Reports from Growers are Pending.

AF1753-16 (good results, four commercial trials, total 8.1 acres)

test #1 processing Good emergence (90% stand), good late vigor

1 acres 450 cwt/A, large and straight (70% over 10 ounce)

Very good prospect, more yield than Shepody

Normal bruising; no skinning or hollow heart; few growth cracks, sunburn may be a problem.

Planted: May 20

10- and 12-inch seedpiece spacing

Varied fertilizer program

Harvested: October 1

Hauled directly to processing plant.

test #2 processing Good early vigor (90% stand), good late vigor

3.5 acres 376 cwt/A, good size, moderate sunburn, looked good .

Very good prospect, good yields, early sizing, best yielding

variety on the farm, would try to improve hilling practices.

Slight bruising and skinning, slight to moderate growth cracks, slight off shapes and hollow heart.

Planted: May 13 (not vinekilled)

10½-inch seedpiece spacing

Approx. 156 lbs/A N in 12-15-16 at planting

Harvested: September 20

Hauled directly to processing plant.

test #3 processing Slow early growth (82% stand), very good late vigor

2.6 acres 355 cwt/A, good prospect, better all around than Shepody;

Very large tubers, 5% B’s, smooth well-shaped tubers;

Slight bruising and skinning, slight off shapes, no growth cracks, slight to moderate sunburn, no hollow heart.

Planted May 20 (117 days planting to vinekill)

8- and 10-inch seedpiece spacing

1074 lbs/A 14-14-14 at planting

Harvested: September 19 (very moist; raining)

Hauled to processing plant.

test #4 processing Good early vigor, no disease or pest problems

1.0 acres 276 cwt/A, sized slowly, fair prospect for chips;

Nice type, 1% under 1f inches, needs to be planted early;

Slight bruising and skinning, no rot or hollow heart, no off shapes or growth cracks, moderate sunburn.

Planted May 27(no vine desiccation)

10-inch seedpiece spacing

1000 lbs/A 15-15-15 at planting

Harvested: October 12 (very moist and cool)

Field delivery for chips.

AF1808-18 (fair results, sunburn concerns; two commercial trials, total 1.6 acres)

test #5 processing Uneven emergence (85% stand), matured early

1.0 acres 345 cwt/A, 1.079, 16% culls, good skin set, large, 58% 10 ounce; Good prospect, early maturing, good yield;

Slight bruising; no skinning, hollow heart; off shapes, or growth cracks, severe sunburn, 1.5% water rot.

Grower would work on hilling practices.

Planted: May 12 (vinekilled at 118 days)

12-, 16½- and 18-inch seedpiece spacing

1400 lbs/A of 14-14-17

Harvested: October 5 (dry and warm conditions)

Hauled directly to processing plant.

test #6 processing Good early vigor (85 to 90% stand), early maturity.

0.6 acres 408 cwt/A, nice russeting, fair appearance, large tubers over

50% 10 ounce, some water rot in low areas;

Moderate bruising with some discoloration problems. Slight off shapes, growth cracks, and hollow heart. Severe sunburn problems. Good prospect, good yields, early sizing, but needs narrower spacing and control of sunburning.

Planted: May 8 (vinekilled 124 days after planting)

11-inch seedpiece spacing

1200 lbs/A of 15-14-16 at planting

Harvested: October 8 (dry and warm at harvest)

Hauled directly to processing plant.

B0766-3 (promising results, two tests, 1.21 acres)

test #7 seed Good early growth and vigor (90% stand), slow late growth

1.2 acres and vigor, no disease problems; good prospect;

325 cwt/A, bright, smooth skin, large percentage 2¼ to 3 inch tubers, no defect problems noted. Grower felt that yields were similar to Atlantic and appearance was much better.

Planted: May 17 (97 days planting to vinekill)

7-inch seedpiece spacing

1300 lbs/A 14-14-16 at planting

Harvested: September 27 (warm and dry conditions)

Stored in boxes at 58^oF for three weeks then slowly lowered to 38^oF

test #8 seed Fair early vigor (90% stand), fair late vigor

.01 acres Yield not reported; good appearance and size

2% growth cracks, no other problems. Good prospect, but no major strengths noted to date.

Planted: May 27 (92 days planting to vinekill)

7½-inch seedpiece spacing

1200 lbs/A 14-14-14 at planting

Harvested: September 15 (soil dry)

Stored in boxes

Marcy, NY112 (very good results, four tests, 140 acres)

test #9 chipping Good early vigor (95% stands), very good late vigor

37 acres 450 cwt/A (high yields and late maturity)

Good appearance, uniform size, 1f to 3½ inches.

Slight skinning and bruising, no external defects or hollow heart. Chipped well out of the field, solids slightly lower than Atlantic. Grower might space it at 9 inches next year.

Planted May 15 (days planting to vinekill, not reported)

8-inch seedpiece spacing

1000 lbs/A 15-15-15

Harvested: not reported

Chipped out of field with good results.

test #10 seed Good early vigor (95% stand), excellent late vigor;

40 acres 350 cwt/A, bright and smooth, great table size, some chefs;

Slight bruising and sunburn, no other problems.

Very good prospect, should kill earlier for seed.

Planted May 20 (113 days, planting to vinekill)

7½-inch seedpiece spacing

1350 lbs/A 10-15-16 at planting

Harvested: October 5 (slightly dry, moderate temperature)

Stored in bins at 33^oF holding temperature, 95% R.H.

test #11 seed Good early vigor (70% stand), excellent late vigor;

50 acres 370 cwt/A, round to oval, shallow eyes, heavily netted skin, medium size; slight bruising and sunburn, no other problems.

Good prospect, high yield with resistance to heat stress, need to work to avoid blind seedpieces.

Planted May 13 (120 days, planting to vinekill)

8-inch seedpiece spacing

1000 lbs/A 10-15-15 at planting; 0-0-120 at cult.

Harvested: October 4 (dry)

Stored in ventilated bins at 38^oF holding temperature after 55^oF curing.

test #12 seed Good early vigor (99% stand), very good late vigor; killed

12.5 acres easily, no pest or disease problems.

420 cwt/A, buff brown skin, round to oval, mostly very nice, very little rot or lenticel problems, large tubers; slight water rot and sunburn, moderate hollow heart in large tubers, no other problems.

Very good prospect, best yielding round white, plant early, this is a late variety, skin color is a drawback, allow 21 days for skin set.

Planted May 13 (115 days, planting to vinekill)

7½-inch seedpiece spacing

1200 lbs/A 14-14-14 at planting

Harvested: October 4 (dry)

Stored in conventional storage.

Monticello, NY102 (good results, one test, approximately 20 acres)

test #13 chipping Very good early vigor (92% stand), very good late vigor,

20 acres 280 cwt/A, excellent appearance, low external defects incidence, no hollow heart. Good size and uniformity.

Good prospect, has chipped well from long-term storage.

Planted May 14 (109 days planting to vinekill)

9-inch seedpiece spacing

1200 lbs/A of 13-13-13; plus 50 lbs/A Urea topdress

Harvested: September 23 (excellent conditions)

Stored in bins for marketing as chips.

UEC (poor results, water rot and hollow heart, one test, 4 acres)

test #14 seed Good early vigor (90% stands), good late vigor

4 acres 330 cwt/A, good appearance and size

No external defects except for severe water rot, also 10% hollow heart.

Management practices not reported.

Dumped in field due to water rot.