AAFC’s New Varieties, Potatos Spud Smart Spring 2011

AAFC’s New Varieties for 2011

Potatoes are a staple food for Canadian families—whether baked, boiled or fried, potatoes are a nutritious part of our diet. But, as consumers’ tastes expand, producers must look for ways to match their products with current food trends.

Creamers are small gourmet potatoes that command a premium price in the marketplace. Three of this year’s selections in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Accelerated Release Program have potential as creamers. Some creamer selections can grow up to 30 small potatoes per plant, and these varieties can be used for cooking in a number of ways, including boiled, baked and in salads.

Another new trend is pigmented or coloured-flesh potatoes, which offer consumers extra nutritional value. On the 2011 selections list, growers will find a purple- and red-fleshed variety.

Since 1998, each February researchers at AAFC’s Potato Research Centre in Fredericton release new potato selections through the Accelerated Release Program. This national program gives potato evaluators and producers the opportunity to trial selections bred at the Potato Research Centre—and since 2009, also from the Lethbridge Research Centre. This gives them the opportunity to assess performance and suitability for their own specific requirements.

The selections are usually at year six of a 12-year evaluation cycle, including field testing in major production areas for agronomic and quality performance as well as disease and pest resistance.

“Initially, the Accelerated Release Program started out as a means to release french fry selections, but after five years it was expanded to include chipping and fresh market selections,” says Agnes Murphy, a potato research scientist with AAFC.

For a $100 handling fee, growers receive a limited quantity of breeders’ seed and the rights to non-exclusive testing for two years. After the two-year period, cash bids can be submitted for a further three-year period of exclusive testing.

By or before the end of the exclusive test period, a six-year, renewable licence to commercialize a selection may be negotiated.

Developing new varieties for potato growers and processors to meet the demands of Canadian consumers is part of the mandate for AAFC scientists in Fredericton.

 

French Fry Selections

AR2011_01AR2011-01 (F05077) (F91031 x Congo)

Long selection with purple skin and flesh, late maturity, french fry quality and resistance to golden nematode.

  • Plant vigour strong; late maturity, similar to Russet Burbank.
  • Tubers long (L:W = 1.7), average size and appearance; purple skin (RHS = 79A), purple flesh (RHS=79B); many shallow eyes; intermediate length of dormancy.
  • Medium set; total yield greater than Congo; good boil and bake, and acceptable french fry scores.

AR2011_02AR2011-02 (CV03393-2) (Silverton Russet x Premier Russet)

Long selection with russet skin, cream flesh, excellent fry quality and cold storage potential.

  • Plant vigour moderate; mid-season maturity, earlier than Shepody.
  • Tubers long (L:W = 2.1), medium to small size with average appearance; russetted skin, cream flesh; intermediate length of dormancy.
  • Medium set; yields less than Shepody; good boil, bake and excellent french fry scores. Specific gravity slightly higher than Shepody and Russet Burbank.

AR2011_03AR2011-03 (F06001) (B8943-4 x F92045)

Oblong to long selection with buff skin, cream flesh and resistance to golden nematode.

  • Plant vigour moderate; mid-season maturity, earlier than Shepody.
  • Tubers oblong to long (L:W = 1.9), greater than medium size with average appearance; lightly netted, buff skin (RHS = 158A), cream flesh (RHS = 11D); average number of eyes of intermediate depth; longer dormancy indicated, none sprouted by middle of January.
  • Low to medium set; yields similar to Shepody; good boil, bake and french fry scores. Specific gravity less than Shepody.

AR2011-04 (F06005) (12867-02 x ND6993-13)

Oblong selection with tan skin, cream flesh, uniform tubers and resistance to common scab

  • Plant vigour moderate; early to mid-season maturity, earlier than Shepody.
  • Tubers oblong (L:W = 1.7), greater than medium size similar to Russet Burbank with average appearance; lightly netted, golden skin (RHS = 164D), cream flesh (RHS = 158B); slightly above average number of eyes of intermediate depth; short length of dormancy, sprouted by middle of December.
  • Low to medium set; yields below Shepody; good boil, fair bake and moderate french fry scores. Specific gravity less than Shepody.

Chip Selection

AR2011-05 (CV02321-1) (NY115W x BC0894-2W)

Round selection with smooth white skin, cream flesh, excellent chip colour and cold storage potential.

Plant vigour moderate; mid-season maturity, earlier than Atlantic.

Tubers round (L:W = 1.0), small to medium size with average appearance; white smooth skin; intermediate length of dormancy.

High set; yields less than Atlantic; good boil, bake and excellent chip scores (stable at low temperature). Specific gravity less than Atlantic.

Fresh Market Selections

AR2011-06 (F05056) (Glenwood Red x F92028)

Oval selection with purple/red skin, cream flesh, resistance to wart and scab, small, uniform tubers (creamer potential).

  • Plant vigour moderate; mid-season maturity, similar to Yukon Gold.
  • Tubers oval (L:W = 1.3), small size with better than average appearance; smooth, purple to red skin (RHS = 185D), cream flesh (RHS = 11D); below average number of eyes of slightly less than intermediate depth; intermediate length of dormancy, similar to Chieftain.
  • High set; total yields higher than Yukon Gold; very good boil and bake quality.

AR2011-07 (F05062) (N1700-8 x Chieftain)

Oval selection with dark purple skin, white flesh, resistance to golden nematode and high yield potential.

  • Plant vigour strong; late maturity, similar to Kennebec.
  • Tubers oval (L:W = 1.3), better than average size and appearance; smooth, purple skin (RHS = 186B), white flesh (RHS = 11C); slightly below average number of eyes of intermediate depth; intermediate length of dormancy, similar to Umatilla Russet.
  • Medium set; yield higher than Chieftain; good boil and fair bake quality.

AR2011-08 (F06010) (F96013 x CS7232-4)

Round selection with buff, slightly netted skin, cream flesh and resistance to golden nematode.

  • Plant vigour moderate to strong; mid-season maturity, similar to Yukon Gold.
  • Tubers round (L:W = 1.1), average size and better than average appearance; buff, slightly netted skin (RHS = 19C), cream flesh (RHS = 11D); average number of eyes of intermediate depth; short length of dormancy, sprouted by the first week of January.
  • Medium set; yield similar to Yukon Gold; good boil and bake, and warm temperature chipping quality.

AR2011-09 (F06018) (Frontier Russet x F87070)

Oblong to long selection with brown russet skin, cream flesh and resistance to golden nematode and scab.

  • Plant vigour moderate; mid-season maturity, similar to Yukon Gold.
  • Tubers long (L:W = 1.7), slightly above average size with good appearance; brown, russet skin (RHS = 165D), cream flesh (RHS = 11D); average number of shallow eyes; longer length of dormancy indicated, none sprouted by the middle of January.
  • Medium set; yields less than Yukon Gold; good boil and bake.

AR2011-10 (F06031) (Exploits x AC Chaleur)

Round selection with bright skin, cream flesh, resistance to golden nematode, wart, and extreme resistance to PVY and PVX, small, uniform tubers (creamer potential).

  • Plant vigour moderate; mid-season maturity, similar to Yukon Gold.
  • Tubers round (L:W = 1.0), small, uniform with good appearance; bright buff skin (RHS = 18B), cream flesh (RHS = 11D); slightly below average number of shallow eyes; intermediate length of dormancy, similar to Atlantic.
  • High set; yield greater than Yukon Gold; good boil and bake, relatively moist texture; after-cooking darkening noted from Ontario.

AR2011-11 (F06040) (Frontier Russet x N1503-19)

Oval selection with purple skin, white flesh and resistance to wart.

  • Plant vigour strong; mid-season to late maturity, similar to Chieftain.
  • Tubers oval (L:W = 1.3), average size with good appearance; purple skin (RHS = 79B), white flesh (RHS = 155D); average number of shallow eyes; intermediate length of dormancy indicated.
  • High set; yield greater than Yukon Gold; very good boil and good bake, relatively dry texture.

AR2011-12 (F06046) (N0634-07 x ND0860-02)

Oval selection with smooth, light yellow skin and flesh, resistance to golden nematode and wart, small, uniform tubers (creamer potential).

  • Plant vigour moderate to strong; mid-season maturity, similar to Yukon Gold.
  • Tubers oval (L:W = 1.3), small size with average yellow skin (RHS = 19B), yellow flesh (RHS = 12C); slightly below average number of intermediate depth eyes; intermediate length of dormancy indicated.
  • High set; total yield greater than Yukon Gold; good boil and bake, and acceptable chip scores.

AR2011-13 (F06054) (Congo x PA99P20-2)

Long selection with red skin and flesh with good boil and bake quality.

  • Plant vigour moderate to strong; mid-season to late maturity, similar to Chieftain.
  • Tubers long (L:W = 2.1), average size and appearance; red skin (RHS = 64B), red flesh (RHS = N66C); average number of shallow eyes; short to intermediate length of dormancy indicated.
  • Medium set; yield greater than Congo; good boil and bake, and marginal french fry scores.

AR2011-14 (FV13786-7) (Agitato x Rochdale Gold-Dorée)

Round selection with light yellow skin and flesh, and uniform tubers.

  • Plant vigour moderate; mid-season maturity, similar to Yukon Gold.
  • Tubers round (L:W = 1.0), medium size with good appearance; light yellow skin and flesh; intermediate length of dormancy.
  • Medium set; yields less than Yukon Gold; good boil and bake scores. Specific gravity less than Yukon Gold.

Andrea Geary