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Title: GEMSTAR RUSSET: A NEW RUSSET POTATO VARIETY WITH HIGH YIELD, GOOD CULINARY QUALITY, EXCELLENT FRESH MARKET APPEARANCE, AND RESISTANCE TO COMMON SCAB

Author
item LOVE, S - UNIV OF IDAHO
item Novy, Richard - Rich
item Whitworth, Jonathan
item CORSINI, D - USDA ARS, RETIRED
item PAVEK, J - USDA ARS, RETIRED
item MOSLEY, A - OREGON STATE UNIV
item PAVEK, M - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item KNOWLES, R - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item Brown, Charles
item JAMES, S - OREGON STATE UNIV
item HANE, D - OREGON STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/2005
Publication Date: 1/2/2006
Citation: Love, S.L., Novy, R.G., Whitworth, J.L., Corsini, D.L., Pavek, J.J., Mosley, A.R., Pavek, M.J., Knowles, R.K., Brown, C.R., James, S.R., Hane, D.C. 2006. Gemstar russet: a new russet potato variety with high yield, good culinary quality, excellent fresh market appearance, and resistance to common scab. American Journal of Potato Research. 2006. 83:171-180.

Interpretive Summary: One way to improve the economic status of the potato industry is to introduce new varieties with better attributes. GemStar Russeet is an example of a new varieity that offers opportunities for improving certain aspects of potato production. It is intend for the processing and fresh markets. It produces a higher percent of over four ounce than the standard variety. It is less likely to suffer from second growth, growth cracks, and discoloration. It is moderately resistant to the dark spots in the flesh that form after physical impacts during harvest and handling. It is more resistant o Verticillium wilt, potato virus X, common scab and the net of dark lines that form in the tuber in response to infection by potato leafroll virus. It is also higher in protein and vitamin C than the standard Russet Burbank. Gemstar Russet has the potential of needing less pesticide due to its resistances to pests and diseases. Its lack of internal defects shows that it is more tolerant to stress conditions, and may consistently be more profitable for the grower over many locations.

Technical Abstract: GemStar Russet, resulting from a cross of Gem Russet and A8341-5, was released in 2004 by the USDA/ARS and the agricultural experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The foliage of GemStar Russet is dark yellowish-green, spreading, with large leaves and abundant white flowers. When compared with Russet Norkotah, GemStar Russet produced similar total and US No. 1 yields in early harvest trials in the Columbia Basin and eastern Oregon, but higher total and US No. 1 yields in late harvest trials. When observed for defect problems, GemStar Russet exhibited resistance to second growth, growth cracks, and stem-end discoloration, moderate resistance to blackspot and shatter bruising, but a high level of susceptibility of hollow heart. In product quality tests, GemStar Russet was rated superior to Russet Burbank for french fry quality and comparable for baked potato quality. In replicated evaluations, GemStar Russet was found to be immune to PVX, resistant to common scab and powdery scab, moderately resistant to verticillium wilt, tuber net necrosis caused by PLRV, and corky ringspot. It demonstrated susceptibility to late blight, PLRV, dry rot, soft rot, and ringrot and extreme susceptibility to PVYo. Biochemical analysis of GemStar Russet tubers showed them to be higher in protein and much higher in vitamin C than those of Russet Burbank or Russet Norkotah. Three-year average for tuber glycoalkaloid concentration was 1.5 mg/100 g.