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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #323978
Title: Mountain Gem Russet: A medium to late season potato variety with high early and full season yield potential and excellent fresh market characteristics

Author
item STARK, JEFF - University Of Idaho
item Novy, Richard - Rich
item Whitworth, Jonathan
item KNOWLES, NORMAN - Washington State University
item PAVEK, MARK - Washington State University
item THORNTON, MIKE - University Of Idaho
item SPEAR, RHETT - McCain Foods, Inc
item Brown, Charles
item CHARLTON, BRIAN - Oregon State University
item SATHUVALLI, VIDYASAGAR - Oregon State University
item YILMA, SOLOMON - Oregon State University
item OLSEN, NORA - University Of Idaho
item BRANDT, TINA - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2015
Publication Date: 4/29/2016
Citation: Stark, J.C., Novy, R.G., Whitworth, J.L., Knowles, N.R., Pavek, M.J., Thornton, M., Spear, R., Brown, C.R., Charlton, B.A., Sathuvalli, V., Yilma, S., Olsen, N., Brandt, T.L. 2016. Mountain Gem Russet: A medium to late season potato variety with high early and full season yield potential and excellent fresh market characteristics. American Journal of Potato Research. 93(2):158-171.

Interpretive Summary: Mountain Gem Russet is a potato variety notable for its high yields in both early and full-season trials, allowing flexibility in its use for commercial production. Attractive tubers and excellent culinary qualities make this variety suitable for fresh consumption and possibly early processing as well. It was released in 2015 by the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and is a product of the Pacific Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program.

Technical Abstract: Mountain Gem Russet is a medium to late maturing variety with both high early and full season yields of oblong-long, medium-russeted tubers having higher protein content than those of standard potato varieties. Mountain Gem Russet has greater resistance to tuber late blight, tuber malformations and most internal and external defects than Russet Burbank. Mountain Gem Russet produced greater total and U.S. No. 1 yields than Ranger Russet and Russet Norkotah in early season trials conducted in Idaho, Oregon and Washington over a three year period. In full season trials conducted in five western states over a four year period, average total yields for Mountain Gem Russet were nearly always higher than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank, with specific gravities averaging between these two standard cultivars. It maintains acceptable reducing sugar concentrations and fry quality when stored at 8.9oC and shows good potential for early processing. High early and late season total and U.S. No. 1 yields, coupled with excellent culinary and nutritional qualities, make Mountain Gem Russet an excellent candidate for fresh market production. It was released in 2015 by the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and is a product of the Pacific Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program.