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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315584
Title: Peter Wilcox: A new purple-skin, yellow flesh fresh market potato cultivar

Author
item Haynes, Kathleen
item YENCHO, G. CRAIG - North Carolina State University
item CLOUGH, MARK - North Carolina State University
item HENNINGER, MELVIN - Rutgers University
item QU, XINSHUN - Pennsylvania State University
item CHRIST, BARBARA - Pennsylvania State University
item PECK, MIKE - Pennsylvania State University
item PORTER, GREGORY - University Of Maine
item HUTCHINSON, CHAD - University Of Florida
item GERGELA, DOUGLAS - University Of Florida
item HALSETH, DONALD - Cornell University
item MENASHA, SANDRA - Cornell University
item SIECZKA, JOSEPH - Cornell University

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2015
Publication Date: 9/25/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61577
Citation: Haynes, K.G., Yencho, G., Clough, M.E., Henninger, M.R., Qu, X., Christ, B.J., Peck, M.X., Porter, G., Hutchinson, C., Gergela, D., Halseth, D., Menasha, S., Sieczka, J. 2015. Peter Wilcox: A new purple-skin, yellow flesh fresh market potato cultivar. American Journal of Potato Research. 93:273-581.

Interpretive Summary: New specialty potato varieties are required to meet changing/expanded consumer preferences and to address defects in tuber quality of specialty potatoes. Utilizing conventional breeding practices, we have developed a new potato variety named Peter Wilcox. Peter Wilcox was developed primarily as a fresh market potato because of its colorful purple skin and yellow flesh but is also suitable for use in chip production. Tubers of Peter Wilcox are smooth and oblong shape of moderate size. Yellow-flesh intensity is equal to or slightly darker than the standard market variety Yukon Gold. Marketable yields of Peter Wilcox have averaged 78-97% of various standard varieties in multiple years of testing. However, hollow heart and internal heat necrosis quality defects in Peter Wilcox tubers have generally been less than in standard varieties. Peter Wilcox is moderately resistant to powdery scab disease but susceptible to late blight, early blight, potato virus Y, Verticillium wilt, and common scab. Peter Wilcox is a publicly released variety that will benefit specialty potato growers.

Technical Abstract: Peter Wilcox is a new, medium-maturing, purple-skin, yellow-flesh potato cultivar for fresh market. Peter Wilcox also produces light-colored chips, although it is being released primarily as a fresh market potato because of its skin and flesh colors. Tubers of Peter Wilcox are attractive, smooth, with dark purple-skin, and oblong shape of moderate size. Yellow-flesh intensity is equal to or slightly darker than Yukon Gold. Marketable yields of Peter Wilcox have averaged 78-97% of various standard cultivars in multiple years of testing. Specific gravity of Peter Wilcox was lower than Yukon Gold, but higher than standard red-skin cultivars it was compared to at numerous locations. Hollow heart and internal heat necrosis in Peter Wilcox tubers have generally been less than in standard cultivars, however, slight purple-streaks in the flesh have occasionally been reported in Maine. Peter Wilcox is moderately resistant to powdery scab. It is susceptible to late blight, early blight, potato virus Y, Verticillium wilt, and common scab. Peter Wilcox is a publicly released cultivar.