Clearwater Russet: A dual-purpose potato cultivar with cold sweetening resistance, high protein content, and low incidence of external defects and sugar ends

Authors: Novy, Richard; Whitworth, Jonathan; STARK, J. - University Of Idaho; LOVE, S. - University Of Idaho; CORSINI, D. - Retired ARS Employee; PAVEK, J. - Retired ARS Employee; VALES, M. - Oregon State University; JAMES, S. - Oregon State University; HANE, D. - Oregon State University; SHOCK, C. - Oregon State University; CHARLTON, B. - Oregon State University; Brown, Charles; KNOWLES, N. - Washington State University; PAVEK, M. - Washington State University; BRANDT, T. - University Of Idaho; GUPTA, S. - University Of Idaho; OLSEN, N. - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2010
Publication Date: 6/22/2010
Citation: Novy, R.G., Whitworth, J.L., Stark, J.C., Love, S.L., Corsini, D.L., Pavek, J.J., Vales, M.I., James, S.R., Hane, D.C., Shock, C.C., Charlton, B.A., Brown, C.R., Knowles, N.R., Pavek, M.J., Brandt, T.L., Gupta, S., Olsen, N. 2010. Clearwater Russet: A Dual-Purpose Potato Cultivar with Cold Sweetening Resistance, High Protein Content, and Low Incidence of External Defects and Sugar Ends. American Journal of Potato Research. 87:458-471.

Interpretive Summary: Highland Russet is a potato variety with medium russeting of its tubers and is notable for its high marketable yield and tuber protein content (35% greater than Russet Burbank). It is suitable for fresh market as well as processing into French fries and other frozen potato products with excellent fry color and a low incidence of sugar ends.

Technical Abstract: Clearwater Russet is a russet-skinned potato cultivar suitable for processing or fresh pack. It is notable for having a low incidence of external defects that contributes to its high U.S. No 1 yield relative to the dual-purpose industry standard, Russet Burbank. Clearwater Russet also has exceptional processing quality, with a low incidence of sugar ends and cold-induced sweetening resistance allowing it to be stored at a temperature of 7.2°C for up to 250 days without the need for reconditioning; fry color from this storage regime is consistently =1.0 (USDA Fry Color Scale). This cultivar is also notable for its high tuber protein content, which was 35% greater than that of Russet Burbank. In full-season trials conducted over a three-year period in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, Clearwater Russet had total yields slightly lower than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank, but averaged 2% and 30% higher U.S. No. 1 yields, respectively, across all states. Average specific gravity of Clearwater Russet is comparable to Ranger Russet and significantly higher than Russet Burbank. Clearwater Russet is resistant to potato virus X (PVX) and tuber late blight and is moderately resistant to Verticillium wilt, common scab, and the common strain of potato virus Y (PVYO). Symptoms of infection with two necrotic strains of PVY were not observed in tubers of Clearwater Russet or Russet Burbank, but were observed in Ranger Russet. Blackspot bruise reaction for Clearwater Russet is less pronounced than for either Ranger Russet or Russet Burbank. The incidence of hollow heart in Clearwater Russet is intermediate between Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank. Internal brown spot has been noted as a problem for Clearwater Russet in the Columbia Basin of Oregon, but has not been observed as problematic in other growing regions. Clearwater Russet was released in 2008 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.