b'TATERTALES SP327 is a new chipping potato variety developed in Ontario by Peter Vander Zaag.An Outstanding Chipping VarietyNEW VARIETIES ARE crucial to the health and growth of the Ontario potato industry. Plant breeders strive to improve the traits potato processors and buyers want for their markets. Most of the potato breeding in Canada has been publicly funded by the federal government at the Fredericton Research and Development Centre in New Brunswick, but private breeders are now taking a more active role. Peter Vander Zaag is known globally as an outstanding potato scientist, educator, mentor of grad students, innovative potato EUGENIA BANKS,producer and breeder. In 2011, he was instrumental in helping POTATOto form the Canadian Private Potato Breeders Network, which SPECIALIST WITHfacilitates collaboration and is a collective voice for independent THE ONTARIO POTATO BOARD potato breeders.Vander Zaags breeding work has focused on potato varieties for processing. Worldwide, chip processors are looking for varieties which can be stored for long periods and maintain low levels of re-ducing sugars during storage. Potatoes stored at 4 C have reduced sprouting, less moisture loss, and less disease incidence. However, they will also convert starch slowly reducing sugars and producing brown, unmarketable chips when fried. Development of a new chipping variety is a long process, taking more than 10 years. Fortunately, our own Ontario potato breeder, Vander Zaag, has developed a new chipping variety called SP327. SP327 has been grown in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec withThe SP327 potato variety can be stored at lower temperatures without excellent resultshigh yields, medium to high dry matter andthe frying quality being affected.PHOTO: PETER VANDER ZAAGoutstanding chipping quality after long storage. The variety is also being evaluated in China. matter. Frying quality is also very good. He has more selections/On Aug. 26, I visited a non-irrigated field of SP327 near Newvarieties in the pipeline.Lowell with Vander Zaag and his wife Carla, who is also involved inBreeding french fry processing varieties with durable resistance the breeding program. The field was planted on June 2 and it wasto late blight is an important objective of Peters breeding program. still vigorous and healthy. I was impressed with the even tuber set,He is collaborating with Andre Gagnon (Progest, Quebec), Darin size and high yield potential. There is no doubt SP327 is a varietyGibson (Gaia Consulting, Manitoba) and Joyce and Robert Coffin, which should help potato growers to remain competitive. (Privar Farm, Ontario) in this project. Mark VanOostrum, field supply manager with WD Potato Ltd.A Chinese potato variety resistant to late blight has been near Beeton, Ont. is also impressed with the plant vigour andcrossed with Prospect, a french fry variety developed by the Coffins, yield of SP327 and expects to do some commercial frying thiswith the aim of combining the best traits of both potato varieties. coming winter. Durable resistance combines several sources of resistance in the Besides the excellent frying quality, SP327 can also be soldsame variety so that late blight does not overcome the resistance in the fresh market. I have tasted it boiled, and its delicious. Al- easily. There are seedlings which look promising, but it will take though SP327 has white flesh, it tastes like the yellow Yukon Gold. several years to determine if they have the yield and quality needed SP327 was registered in Canada on May 22, 2020 and is beingfor a successful processing variety combined with durable late multiplied for sale under a license agreement with La Patate Lac- blight resistance.Saint-Jean (LPLSJ) in Quebec. Vander Zaag is passionate about potato breeding, which Frdric Tremblay, business development manager for LPLSJ,requires patience, financial resources, and a lot of work. Even if told me SP327 is at a high generation stage. We did test digsa potato breeder finds a superior seedling, there are numerous to check it last week and we saw many potatoes per plant andchallenges to getting a new variety accepted by processors. Vander good yields. Zaag believes local breeding programs will have great impact in Vander Zaag has also developed SP326another chippingtheir environmental or ecological zones. There is no doubt he is variety with excellent yields and medium to high levels of dryright about that! 48 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2020'