November/December 2021 - 33

Robert Graveland, research director at HZPC, another major
potato breeding company based in The Netherlands, agrees
with Van Hoogen's sentiment. North America is unique in its
preference for white-fleshed processing potatoes and russet
skin. European breeders, he said, focus on sustainability, so
reducing the environmental footprint of the potato. Like
most breeders, much of HZPC's focus is on stability of yield
and performance against stressors.
NEW PVMI VARIETIES
The Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI) has
two new promising potato varieties available to seed
growers, and two promising varieties are coming down
the pipeline. PVMI Executive Director Jeanne Debons
is responsible for marketing the varieties to processors
and seed growers. Seed growers, she said, typically won't
grow a variety unless processors have expressed interest.
Processors have expressed interest in both Galena Russet
and Rainier Russet.
The first, Galena Russet, is a high yielding, medium-tolate
French fry processing potato with attractive tubers. It
has cold sweetening resistance and high protein content. A
high percentage of its overall yield meets U.S. No. 1 grade.
While dormancy length of Galena Russet is approximately
20 days shorter than Russet Burbank, it is more resistant to
the viruses PVY, PLRV and tuber net necrosis than Russet
Burbank and Ranger Russet. But it is slightly more susceptible
to foliar early blight.
A superior potato with regards to taste, Rainier Russet has
high fresh pack-out and the average tuber size is 10 ounces.
It also offers long dormancy. When compared to standard
varieties, Rainier produced a significantly higher percentage
of U.S. No. 1 yields. It has high protein, high antioxidant levels,
high specific gravity, light fry color, low acrylamide levels, and
few internal and external tuber defects.
For non-seed growers, these varieties are three to four years
out. Both varieties should be available to seed growers as of
next year.
The gold spheres (cysts) are the bodies of female nematodes and
each contains several hundred eggs. Photo: Xiaohong Wang
For non-seed growers, Debons highlighted two varieties of
interest: La Belle Russet and Pomerelle Russet.
In comparison to Russet Burbank, La Belle Russet is an early
to medium-maturing variety with good early-season yields of
oblong-long, medium-russeted tubers and excellent dormancy.
It also has greater resistance to tuber malformations and most
internal and external defects. It's an excellent storage potato that
can be stored up to nine months, said Debons.
Pomerelle Russet is an early-maturing, dual-purpose potato
that produces moderately high early-season yields. Debons
said it produces consistent, attractive tubers that are resistant
to internal and external defects.
" It also has good storage, but probably not as good as La
Belle, " she said.
It maintains acceptable fry color for about 180-200 days in
storage at 48°F, which indicates some potential for processing
out of short-term storage. However, its primary use appears
to be as a high quality, early fresh variety.
Pomerelle Russet and La Belle were primarily fresh market
potatoes, until McCain tested them. They're suitable for both.
More
information
(www.pvmi.org).
is
available
on
PVMI's
website
Spudman * November/December 2021
31
http://www.pvmi.org
November/December 2021

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