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Potato tuber length to width (L/W) ratio is a critical crop trait evaluated during the development and selection of new cultivars to assess the effects of environment and management on tuber size and shape. The major challenges in manual measurement of L/W ratio are that it is labor-intensive, time consuming, and sometimes inconsistent. A high-throughput, digital image-based method for estimation of L/W ratio was developed in this study. Tests were conducted using tubers from a local retail market (red, white and russet) and from a field experiment with Payette Russet cultivar specifically designed to alter tuber size and shape. An image processing algorithm was developed to process the potato tuber images and the L/W ratio data from the images were compared to manual caliper measurements. A high accuracy in tuber L/W ratio estimation was consistently observed using image-based analysis. Among the different potato cultivars, red cultivars had a lower average accuracy in L/W ratio estimation of 94%, while other cultivars exhibited 96% and higher average accuracies.

KEY MESSAGE : High soil temperature during bulking and maturation of potatoes alters postharvest carbohydrate metabolism to attenuate genotypic resistance to cold-induced sweetening and accelerate loss of process quality. The effects of soil temperature during tuber development on physiological processes affecting retention of postharvest quality in low-temperature sweetening (LTS) resistant and susceptible potato cultivars were investigated. ‘Premier Russet’ (LTS resistant), AO02183-2 (LTS resistant) and ‘Ranger Russet’ (LTS susceptible) tubers were grown at 16 (ambient), 23 and 29 °C during bulking (111–164 DAP) and maturation (151–180 DAP). Bulking at 29 °C virtually eliminated yield despite vigorous vine growth. Tuber specific gravity decreased as soil temperature increased during bulking, but was not affected by temperature during maturation. Bulking at 23 °C and maturation at 29 °C induced higher reducing sugar levels in the proximal (basal) ends of tubers, resulting in non-uniform fry color at harvest, and abolished the LTS-resistant phenotype of ‘Premier Russet’ tubers. AO02183-2 tubers were more tolerant of heat for retention of LTS resistance. Higher bulking and maturation temperatures also accelerated LTS and loss of process quality of ‘Ranger Russet’ tubers, consistent with increased invertase and lower invertase inhibitor activities. During LTS, tuber respiration fell rapidly to a minimum as temperature decreased from 9 to 4 °C, followed by an increase to a maximum as tubers acclimated to 4 °C; respiration then declined over the remaining storage period. The magnitude of this cold-induced acclimation response correlated directly with the extent of buildup in sugars over the 24-day LTS period and thus reflected the effects of in-season heat stress on propensity of tubers to sweeten and lose process quality at 4 °C. While morphologically indistinguishable from control tubers, tubers grown at elevated temperature had different basal metabolic (respiration) rates at harvest and during cold acclimation, reduced dormancy during storage, greater increases in sucrose and reducing sugars and associated loss of process quality during LTS, and reduced ability to improve process quality through reconditioning. Breeding for retention of postharvest quality and LTS resistance should consider strategies for incorporating more robust tolerance to in-season heat stress.

In 2016, Russet Norkotah was the second most widely grown potato variety in the US; however, recent research has identified alternatives with excellent production economics. During 2011–2013, fresh market variety research was conducted in the Columbia Basin of central Washington, a long-season production region. Russet Norkotah was compared to five varieties–Classic Russet, Mountain Gem Russet, Russet Burbank, Targhee Russet, and Teton Russet–and four sub-clonal strains–CO-3, CO-8, TX-278, and TX-296–derived from Russet Norkotah. Each variety was evaluated for early- (104 days between planting and vine kill) and late- (150 days between planting and vine kill) harvest tuber size profile, grade, and yield, grower economic value, susceptibility to blackspot bruise and shatter bruise, emergence, stem and at-harvest tuber numbers, tuber length-to-width ratios, and quality. When harvested early, Classic Russet and Mountain Gem Russet produced 30% and 15% more gross revenue than Russet Norkotah, respectively. All other varieties and Russet Norkotah strains except CO-3 produced as much early-harvest gross revenue as Russet Norkotah. CO-3 early-harvest revenue was close to 50% lower than that of Russet Norkotah. All varieties and Russet Norkotah strains produced significantly greater late-harvest yields and gross returns than Russet Norkotah. Late-harvest gross revenue for Targhee Russet and Mountain Gem Russet was 38% and 34% higher than Russet Norkotah, respectively. Classic Russet, Mountain Gem Russet, Targhee Russet, and Teton Russet had significantly more shatter bruise following the late harvest than Russet Norkotah and all Russet Norkotah strains. Russet Burbank was among the most susceptible to blackspot and Targhee Russet the least, with 32% and 2.1%, respectively. If bruising is mitigated, Mountain Gem Russet, Classic Russet, and Teton Russet may be suitable alternatives to Russet Norkotah and Russet Norkotah strains for both early and late harvests .

Quality seed of the ideal size and type (i.e., whole-seed tubers or cut seed pieces) is critical in achieving uniform plant stands and optimal economic returns in commercial potato production. A survey assessed the performance of commercial seed cutting operations during 2021–22 to document the range of seed piece sizes planted in Washington. In addition, two field trials examined seed size performance (28, 42, 56, 70, 84, and 98 g (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 oz)) for Clearwater Russet, Ranger Russet, and Russet Burbank. Seed type performance (whole vs cut) was also assessed for Clearwater Russet. As seed size increased from 28 to 98 g for all varieties and seed types, early plant growth generally improved, average tuber weight decreased by 22%, and stem and tuber number per plant increased by 77% and 50%, respectively. Cut Clearwater Russet seed produced 7% higher yields and 5% more economic return than whole seed. Economic return peaked for Clearwater Russet with a seed weight of 56 g (2.0 oz). Economic return of Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank peaked when seed size was between 70–84 g (2.5 to 3.0 oz) for Russet Burbank and at 84 g (3.0 oz) for Ranger Russet. Due to a highly variable range in cut seed size found in the commercial seed lot survey, growers may have lost an estimated $297 ha −1 or $15,000 pivot −1 (51 ha) during 2021–22 compared to a hypothetical potato field planted with uniform, economically optimal, seed sizes. We conclude that growers should target adequate seed sizes and minimize under- and oversized seed pieces to produce the highest economic return for each variety.

Given the increasing challenges of water scarcity and the stringent quality requirements of the frozen potato-processing industry, this multi-year research trial aimed to determine whether reduced late-season irrigation on potatoes could improve French fry color. The study was conducted near Othello, WA, and was comprised of five irrigation levels: 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, and 120% of modeled evapotranspiration (ET), and five potato cultivars: Alturas, Clearwater Russet, Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank, and Umatilla Russet. Irrigation treatments started 100 to 105 days after planting (DAP), approximately 1500 day degrees (at or near peak canopy growth), and ended at vine kill, 150 to 155 DAP. Fry color was assessed following storage durations of 45 and 90 days after harvest from three storage temperatures of 4.4 °C, 6.7 °C, and 8.9 °C, using a photovolt reflectometer, measuring percent light reflectance, in which higher values represented lighter fries. The study found that reducing late-season irrigation generally improved overall fry color. Fry color improvements were observed in four potato cultivars grown with 20% to 40% less irrigation than the control (100% ET); Ranger Russet exhibited no improvement. Reducing late-season irrigation by more than 40% resulted in darker fries for Clearwater Russet, Russet Burbank, and Umatilla Russet when tubers were stored at 4.4 °C and 6.7 °C. Excess irrigation, greater than 100% ET, generally darkened fries in Alturas, Clearwater Russet, Russet Burbank, and Umatilla Russet. These findings provide valuable guidelines for potato growers, indicating that while reducing late-season irrigation can enhance fry color, the effects may depend on a combination of cultivar, irrigation level, and storage temperature.

With a rising global population and looming water shortages in the U.S., there is a pressing need for water-efficient farming methods. The water needs of potato plants decrease in the late season due to foliage aging and tuber maturation. Therefore, proper late-season irrigation is vital in preventing water waste and maximizing potato profits. This study assessed the feasibility of reducing late-season irrigation to improve crop water productivity (WPc), tuber quality, and economic return. Field trials were planted near Othello, WA, across three years (2018–20). Treatments included five irrigation levels (ILs), 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, and 120% of modeled evapotranspiration (ET), and five potato cultivars: Alturas, Clearwater Russet, Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank, and Umatilla Russet. Treatments started 100 to 105 days after planting (DAP), approximately 1500 day degrees (at or near peak canopy growth), and ended at vine kill, 150 to 155 DAP. Water from reduced ILs of 40% to 80% ET was more efficiently converted into yield (WPc) for Alturas than higher ILs; however, economic return for all cultivars typically peaked when irrigation was supplied at or above 80% ET. Tuber quality generally improved with a reduction in irrigation level, occasionally at the expense of yield and economic value.

Potato tuber length-to-width ratio (L/W) is an important trait for consumer visual acceptance, pack-out efficiency, French fry production, and waste recovery. In the U.S. Northwest Potato Variety Development Program (NWPVDP), L/W accounts for 13% of the overall postharvest score. Selections with L/W ≥ 1.8 are preferred for maximum raw-product recovery (≥ 7.6-cm-long fries). However, tuber shape often depends on production location. Our objectives were to (1) model the effects of production location on L/W using 26 years of historical data from the NWPVDP, and (2) quantify the variability in tuber shape phenotype of selected NWPVDP varieties across production locations (WA, ID, OR). A mixed linear model demonstrated that tuber L/W was strongly affected by location, year, and location-by-year interactions (40% of total variation), while variety and variety-by-location accounted for 43% of total variation. L/W of the 227-284-g tubers of twenty-two released varieties from the NWPVDP averaged 1.65, 1.70, and 1.92 for WA, OR, and ID, respectively, and ranged from a low of 1.51 and 1.53 ( cvs. Payette Russet & Palisade Russet) to a high of 2.06 and 2.12 ( cvs. Ranger Russet & Echo Russet) across locations. The round phenotype of Palisade was stable across locations, leading to consistently low fry recovery (84% FW). By contrast, Payette tubers were invariably round in WA and OR, but elongated when grown in ID. The elongated phenotypes of Echo and Ranger from all locations ensured maximum fry recovery (94 to 95% FW), despite the relatively high variation in L/W (9–13%) attributable to location. Collectively, our results suggest an opportunity for genetic selection of L/W that are stable across locations for market specific reductions in shape waste. Future work should focus on identifying key mechanisms which are impacted by production environment for improved stability of L/W. Furthermore, cultural management strategies should be optimized for L/W consistency and usability by all sectors of the potato industry.

Huckleberry Gold is a purple-skin, yellow-flesh fresh market cultivar with similar culinary qualities to the market standard Yukon Gold. It has lower specific gravity, sucrose and vitamin C content, but a significantly higher level of tuber antioxidants than Yukon Gold. Notable disease resistant characteristics are Potato virus X resistance based on the presence of molecular markers for the PVX resistance genes, Nb and Rx1. In addition it also has the H1 gene present which confers resistance to the potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, which has been confirmed by bioassay to pathotype Ro1. The size profile of Huckleberry Gold is smaller than Yukon Gold, allowing a better fit into specialty markets that are geared to smaller size for fresh use. Huckleberry Gold represents the first purple-skin, yellow-flesh cultivar to come from the Northwest (Tri-State) Potato Variety Development program.

‘Rainier Russet’ was released in 2020 as a medium- to late-maturing selection with russeted tubers. Total yields are less, but similar to controls ‘Ranger Russet’ and ‘Russet Burbank’, and U.S. No. 1 yields are higher than Russet Burbank with increased tubers > 284 g. Compared to controls, it has high protein levels, high specific gravity, excellent fry color and flavor ratings, low acrylamide potential, good post-harvest merit scores for processing quality, and few internal and external tuber defects. Rainier Russet is susceptible to blight diseases, PVY, and Fusarium dry rot ( F. solani var. sambucinum ), but resistant to common scab ( Streptomyces scabies ) and Fusarium dry rot ( F. solani var. coeruleum ). Compared to Russet Burbank, tubers are less susceptible to hollow heart/brown center, secondary growth, growth cracks, and internal brown spot but higher tuber defects for net necrosis and shatter bruise with similar blackspot bruise potential. Rainier Russet is noted for its long tuber dormancy compared to Russet Burbank.