November/December 2019 - 28

CULTIVAR CORNER
La Belle Russet
Yield Potential: Medium
Specific Gravity: Average for processing
Culinary Quality: Excellent
Diseases/Physiological Disorders: Response of La Belle
Russet to most diseases is similar to that of Burbank
and Norkotah, with notable exceptions being moderate
resistance to tuber necrosis associated with potato moptop
virus, and a greater susceptibility to PLRV net necrosis
and dry rot (F. sambucinum), relative to Norkotah.
Incentives for Production: La Belle Russet is an early
variety notable for its very attractive, smooth tubers and
resistances to internal and external defects with a high
percentage of U.S. No. 1 tubers. It maintains acceptable
reducing sugar concentrations and fry quality directly from
the field and when stored at up to nine months at 48 F.
La Belle's high early-season U.S. No. 1 yields - coupled
with excellent culinary and nutritional qualities - make
it an excellent candidate for fresh market production.
OVERVIEW
Parentage: A99031-1TE x A96013-2
Developer: Northwest Potato Variety Development
Program (pvmi.org)
Plant Variety Protection: Applied for in 2019
Strengths: La Belle Russet is an early maturing, dualpurpose
variety with wide adaptability and long tuber
dormancy.
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Plant: La Belle Russet has a semi-erect, medium-sized
vine that matures early.
Tubers: Oblong-long tubers with tan, russet skin. La
Belle Russet tubers have an intermediate number of
eyes with shallow depth, which are predominantly
apically distributed. Tuber set is medium-low and
average tuber size is medium.
AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
Maturity: Early season
Tubers: La Belle Russet produces tubers with moderate
specific gravity, and a relatively high percentage of No.
1 tubers, and tubers >12 ounces. La Belle russets can
maintain acceptable fry color for about 180-200 days in
storage at 48F, indicating some potential for processing
out of short to medium-term storage.
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MANAGEMENT
Fertility: La Belle Russet's nutrient requirements are
about 190-210 lb. N/acre for a 400 cwt/acre yield, which
is about 80-90% of Burbank's N requirement. One-third
to one-half of the seasonal N requirement should be
applied at or near planting with the remainder applied
by early August to facilitate early skin maturation.
Planting: Optimal seed piece spacing in 36-inch wide
rows in southeast Idaho is 10-11 inches, planted at a
depth of 5-7 inches with 2-3 inches of soil applied at
final hilling to minimize tuber greening.
STORAGE
* Long tuber dormancy - 160 days at 45F and 145 days
at 48F; Burbank in the same study was 158 days at 45F
and 143 days at 48F
* Cure at 55F, then ramp to storage temp.
* Mild to moderate mottling.
* Moderately susceptible to dry rot, similar to Russet
Burbank.
AVAILABILITY
Visit www.pvmi.org for a list of seed growers in the U.S.
In Canada, an exclusive agreement with Pommes de
Terre Laurentiennes is being organized. Check with
Ginette Cardinal for seed availability (ginette@pdtl.ca).
http://www.pvmi.org http://www.pvmi.org http://www.Spudman.com
November/December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2019
