ARS | Publication request: Alpine Russet: A potato cultivar having long tuber dormancy making it suitable for processing from long-term storage

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 12, 2010
Publication Date: March 12, 2011
Repository URL: http://riley.nal.usda.gov/nal_web/digi/submission.html
Citation: Whitworth, J.L., Novy, R.G., Stark, J.C., Pavek, J.J., Corsini, D.L., Love, S.L., Olsen, N., Gupta, S.K., Brandt, T., Vales, I.M., Mosley, A.R., Yilma, S., James, S.R., Hane, D.C., Charlton, B.A., Shock, C.C., Knowles, R.N., Pavek, M.J., Miller, J.S., Brown, C.R. 2011. Alpine Russet: A potato cultivar having long tuber dormancy making it suitable for processing from long-term storage. American Journal of Potato Research. 88: 256-268.

Interpretive Summary: Alpine Russet is a light colored oblong to long russet potato variety. It was released by the Tri-State Potato Breeding Program in 2008. Participants in the program include the USDA-ARS at Aberdeen, Idaho and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Alpine Russet can be stored as long as Russet Burbank, the industry processing standard, and can be used to produce high quality fries during and after long term storage. Yields are as high as or higher than Russet Burbank depending on the location grown and the length of the growing season. Alpine Russet also has a higher percent No. 1 yield compared to Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet. It has been evaluated in trials in seven western states over 15 years.

Technical Abstract: Alpine Russet is a later maturing, oblong-long, lightly russeted potato cultivar, notable for having tuber dormancy comparable to Russet Burbank. Processing quality of Alpine Russet from long-term storage is superior to Russet Burbank, with low percent reducing sugars and uniform fry color due to a low percentage difference of sugars between the bud and stem ends. Alpine Russet yields were comparable to Russet Burbank in early harvest trials and were comparable or significantly larger in late harvest trials depending on the location. At two late season locations, Alpine Russet had the largest total and percent No. 1 yields and the largest percent mid-range No. 1 tubers compared to Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank. It has moderately high specific gravity and is resistant to most external and internal defects. Alpine Russet has been evaluated in public and industry trials throughout the Western U.S. for over 15 years.