Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300486

Title: History and origin of Russet Burbank (Netted Gem) a sport of Burbank

Author
item Bethke, Paul
item NASSAR, ATEF M. K. - McGill University - Canada
item KUBOW, STAN - McGill University - Canada
item LECLERC, YVES - McCain Foods, Inc
item LI, XIU-QING - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item HAROON, MUHAMMAD - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item MOLEN, TERESA - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item Bamberg, John
item MARTIN, MAX - University Of Wisconsin
item DONNELLY, DANIELLE - McGill University - Canada

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2014
Publication Date: 6/19/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60001
Citation: Bethke, P.C., Nassar, A., Kubow, S., Leclerc, Y.N., Li, X., Haroon, M., Molen, T., Bamberg, J.B., Martin, M., Donnelly, D.J. 2014. History and origin of Russet Burbank (Netted Gem) a sport of Burbank. American Journal of Potato Research. 91(6):594-609.

Interpretive Summary: Potato is a major crop in North America, and the pre-eminent variety for many years has been "Russet Burbank". This review gathers, for the first time, key points in the 100-year history of this variety, and clears up some common misconceptions. This information will give insight to potato breeders and industry professionals as a model of how major varieties are created, promoted, and develop in popularity with growers and consumers.

Technical Abstract: The foremost French fry processing cultivar in the world, ‘Russet Burbank’, will soon reach an important milestone. In 2014 it will be 100 years since it was first identified. This review investigated the colorful history of ‘Russet Burbank’, clarified its lineage, used a Multiplex PCR system to confirm its origin as a mutation of ‘Burbank’, and examined its French fry qualities and food value. The outcome of this work will be a centenary project to correct germplasm notations for ‘Russet Burbank’ and its progenitors around the world, including major agencies and repositories in North America (GRIN-Plant Gene Resources Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, USDA-Sturgeon Bay, and others) as well as potato seed tuber distributors.