Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Potato growers, potato processors, home gardeners, and consumers of potatoes and potato products. Research results are delivered in written reports, popular press, web sites, and presentations at grower meetings. Variety development involves applied research which is conducted on University research station farms, commercial farms, and by home gardeners. Some of the new potato varieties go directly to consumers via supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and roadside stands, while others are utilized by potato chip and/or french fry processors. The resulting processed products are purchased by consumers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Research results have been made available through printed materials, presentations, and web sites. Each state works with growers and industry advisors to make sure that the research is relavent to local needs. Research trials are often conducted on-farm and small-scale commercial demostration trials are conducted as part of the projects potato variety development efforts. Adoption of new varieties is summarized in the accomplishment section. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This project breeds, selects and develops new potato varieties that will be beneficial to potato producers in the eastern U.S. Crosses between parents with desirable traits take place at ME, NY, NC, and USDA Beltsville, MD. Field sites in ME, NY, MD, PA, OH, VA, NC, and FL are used to test the breeding materials for yield and quality traits over a wide range of growing conditions. The yield and tuber quality evaluations begun under this project during 2011 were completed during 2013. The results included measurement of internal tuber defects, cooking quality, chip and french fry quality, tuber glycoalkaloid levels, tuber dormancy in storage, and resistance to fusarium dry rot. The most promising clones from 2012 were advanced for continued testing in 2013, while those which were judged to have significant weaknesses were dropped from testing. Seedstocks of the clones retained for 2013 testing were distributed to trial sites in ME, NY, PA, OH, MD, VA, NC, FL, as well as other US states and Canadian provinces. Four eastern clones (AF0338-17, AF4157-6, NY140, and NY148) were entered into the 2012 and 2013 US Potato Board chipping trials. All four have demonstrate good commercial potential. Seed multiplication of the most promising clones identified during the 2012 growing season resulted in commercial-scale trials during 2013. From the ME program, there were five advanced clones entered into commercial evaluations during 2012 and 2013. As a result of marketing tests, AF0338-17, a round-white that is widely adapted to eastern growing conditions and produces excellent chips from the field, is being commerical released as Sebec. AF3001-6, a high yielding, verticillium resistant, fry processing clones with excellent fried product color is being released as Easton. AF3362-1 continues evaluation as a dual-purpose russet, while AF4659-12 is being evaluated as a specialy, fingerling-type yellow-fleshed clones and AF4138-8 is being evaluated for round-white fresh market. To facilitate the adoption process, ME coordinated 16 commercial-scale trials representing 11 new potato varieties (2 chippers, 1 round-white, 3 russets, 3 reds, and 2 specialty market yellow fleshed) and 111 acres during 2013. Additional commercial trials were conducted in the other participating states. Potato clones in these commercial tests came from ME, ND, NY, USDA, and the Pacific Northwest. The most promising clones have been entered into disease-free tissue culture and commercial seedstocks are being multiplied and made available to seed potato growers in ME and elsewhere. Eastern potato production represents hundreds of farms and more than $460 million cash farm receipts; therefore, the impact of a successful new potato variety can mean many millions of dollars to the industry. Consumers also benefit from the high quality, local food production resulting from new potato variety adoption. Disease resistant varieties generated by this project have the potential to greatly reduce growers’ losses to devastating diseases such as pink rot and/or late blight. Adoption of late blight resistant varieties would reduce the number of fungicide applications needed to grow a potato crop and/or reduce the risk of late blight infection and spread. Golden nematode, a serious pest found in NY and other countries, cannot be effectively managed without the resistant potato varieties generated by this and other potato breeding projects. The eastern potato breeding and selection effort produces new varieties and evaluates their potential to serve fresh, processing, and specialty markets in the East. Red Maria (NY129) was released in 2010 and two new chipping varieties, Lamoka (NY139) and Waneta (NY138) were released in 2011. Elkton (B1992-106) was released in 2012, while Sebec (AF0338-17) and Easton (AF3001-6) will be released in early 2014. These varieties and other promising clones from the project continue to be evaluated and adopted by the potato industry. Adoption and seed multiplication take considerable time in the potato industry, so impacts occur over a long time period. Recent eastern releases since 2002 (those listed above plus Beacon Chipper, Marcy, Monticello, Harley Blackwell, Red Maria, Lehigh, and Peter Wilcox) were grown on 1027 ME and NY seed acres during 2013 with a seed value of $3.08M. The resulting seed crop had the potential to plant 9242 acres in 2014 with a ware value conservatively estimated at $27.7M. Over a longer time frame, 26 of the ~100 varieties listed in the ME and NY certified seed directories were released by the Eastern programs since 1990. These releases represent 1883 seed acres with a seed value of $5.7M. This seed crop had the potential to plant 17,000 acres in 2014 with a conservatively projected value of $50.8M. This excellent rate of adoption will grow over time as the industry builds seed supplies. There is particularly strong grower interest in improved new chipping varieties to meet quality requirements of eastern processing plants. Harley Blackwell, Elkton, and Sebec (AF0338-17) fit this need in NC and other southeastern states where internal defects reduce the quality of the current standard chipping variety, Atlantic. Lamoka and Waneta are new chipping varieties that are being rapidly adopted by the industry. Easton (AF3001-6) and AF3362-1 have potential as improved fry processing varieties. Specialty varieties, Adirondack Blue, Adirondack Red, Lehigh and Peter Wilcox, are being adopted by small-scale fresh market growers because of their yellow, blue, or red flesh color and excellent culinary quality.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Gergela, D.M., L. Zotarelli, K. Haynes, and G.A. Porter. 2013. B1992-106, a new potential chipping potato variety for Florida. Am J Potato Research 90: 131 (abstr.) Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, and T.Mills 2013. New varieties from the breeding and variety development program. Proceedings of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Potato Conference, Caribou, ME. January 24, 2013 (abstr.). Porter, G.A. and P.C. Ocaya 2013. National fry processing trial and USPB/SFA chipping potato trial. Proceedings of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Potato Conference, Caribou, ME. January 24, 2013 (abstr.)
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, B. MacFarline, and B. Plummer. 2013. Potato variety trial results in Maine, 2013 growing season. PSE Departmental Mimeo 2012-01, 42 pp. Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, and T. Mills. 2013. Maine potato breeding program annual report, 2013 growing season. PSE Departmental Mimeo, 20 pp.

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Potato breeding for improved quality and pest resistance was conducted at ME, NY, NC, and USDA-ARS Beltsville, MD during 2012. These four programs focus on specific pest and marketing issues, so that regional resources are used efficiently. For example, ME is the only breeding program in the region which focuses on russets and long whites for processing (60% russets, 30% fresh and chipping whites, 10% specialty). ME emphasized research on late blight, pink rot, potato virus Y, and scab resistance. Each program uses diverse potato germplasm as parents for crosses that result in improved plant material for selection and commercialization. In ME, greenhouse crosses resulted in 181,000 true potato seeds representing 314 families. Seedling tubers (49,121) from prior ME crosses and from germplasm exchanges with other breeding programs (WI, CO, USDA-ARS, and ND) were planted in the field with 1095 (2.2%) selected for continued evaluation in 2013. All third-year clones were sent to NC to screen for heat tolerance. ME conducts most of its own pest resistance screening; however, PA provides a centralized site for screening late blight, early blight, and powdery scab resistance. Sixty-four third-year and more advanced clones from the ME program had late blight resistance in 2012 tests. The most advanced of these, AF3317-15, continued to be evaluated in processor trials during 2012. USDA-ARS in NY provides golden nematode screening for the eastern programs and 37 of 50 ME clones showed resistance during 2012. Potato variety trials were conducted at three ME locations during 2012 [Presque Isle, 72 entries; St Agatha, 82 entries; and Exeter, 34 entries]. The numbers of promising clones identified by market category were: chipping (5), fresh market whites (6), russet and long-whites (15), reds (8), and specialty (4). Forty-eight advanced clones (5th year and older) from the ME program were retained for 2013 testing. This group consists of 18 whites and chippers, 23 russets and longs, 4 reds, and 3 yellow-fleshed or specialty clones. The three most advanced clones continued commercial evaluations during 2012 and are likely to be released during 2013. AF0338-17 is a round-white that is widely adapted to eastern growing conditions and produced excellent chips from the field. AF3001-6 is a high yielding, verticillium wilt resistant, french fry processing clone. AF3362-1 is dual-purpose, russeted clone for french fry processing and fresh market. To facilitate the adoption process, ME coordinated 16 commercial-scale trials representing 11 new potato varieties (4 chippers, 3 russets, 2 reds, and 2 specialty market yellow fleshed) and 156 acres during 2012. Additional commercial trials were conducted in the other participating states. Potato clones in these commercial tests came from ME, NY, ND, USDA-ARS and the Pacific Northwest. PARTICIPANTS: Porter, G., project director and PI, coordinates Maine potato variety trial and commercialization efforts, since June 1, 2007 has also led Maine's potato breeding program. Lambert, D., co-PI, potato plant pathology research. Alyokhin, A., co-PI, potato insect pest research. Sewel, G., co-PI, potato insect pest research. Bushway, A., co-PI, food science and potato quality research. Camire, M.E., co-PI, food science and potato quality research. Mills, T., scientific technician, potato breeding. Ocaya, P., research associate, agronomy and potato variety development. MacFarline, B., scientific technician, agronomy and potato variety development. Plummer, B., scientific technician, agronomy and potato variety development. The following academic and/or research organizations provided direct support via breeding, variety testing, disease screening, and/or potato germplasm exchange: Cornell University, Rutgers University, Pennsylvania State University, Ohio State University, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, North Carolina State University, University of Florida, USDA-ARS (Beltsville, MD; Ithaca, NY; Madison, WI; Sturgeon Bay, WI; Aberdeen, ID), North Dakota State University, and University of Wisconsin. The Maine Potato Board, Maine Department of Agriculture, similar organizations in the other participating states, and commercial potato growers support the potato breeding, evaluation, and variety development effort. TARGET AUDIENCES: Potato growers, potato processors, home gardeners, and consumers of potatoes and potato products. Research results are delivered in written reports, popular press, web sites, and presentations at grower meetings. Variety development involves applied research which is conducted on University research station farms, commercial farms, and by home gardeners. Some of the new potato varieties go directly to consumers via supermarkets, farmers' markets, and roadside stands, while others are utilized by potato chip and/or french fry processors. The resulting processed products are purchased by consumers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Eastern potato production represents hundreds of farms and more than $460 million cash farm receipts; therefore, the impact of a successful new potato variety can mean many millions of dollars to the industry. Consumers also benefit from the high quality, local food production resulting from new potato variety adoption. Disease resistant varieties generated by this project have the potential to greatly reduce growers' losses to devastating diseases such as pink rot and/or late blight. Adoption of late blight resistant varieties would reduce the number of fungicide applications needed to grow a potato crop and/or reduce the risk of late blight infection and spread. Golden nematode, a serious pest found in NY and other countries, cannot be effectively managed without the resistant potato varieties generated by this and other potato breeding projects. The eastern potato breeding and selection effort produces new varieties and evaluates their potential to serve fresh, processing, and specialty markets in the East. Red Maria (NY129) was released in 2010 and two new chipping varieties, Lamoka (NY139) and Waneta (NY138) were released in 2011. Demand for seed of NY138 and NY139 has exceeded supply. Elkton (B1992-106) was released in 2012, while AF0338-17, AF3001-6, and AF3362-1 are likely to be released during 2013. These varieties and other promising clones from the project continue to be evaluated and adopted by the potato industry. Adoption and seed multiplication take considerable time in the potato industry, so impacts occur over a long time period. Recent eastern releases since 2002 (e.g. Beacon Chipper, Marcy, Monticello, Harley Blackwell, Red Maria, Lehigh, and Peter Wilcox) were grown on 708 seed acres during 2011 with a seed value of $1,880,000. The resulting seed crop had the potential to plant 7000 acres in 2012 with a ware value conservatively estimated at $14M. Over a longer time frame, 26 of the 105 varieties listed in the ME certified potato directory were released by the Eastern programs since 1990. These releases represent 1909 seed acres with a seed value of $5.1M. This seed crop had the potential to plant 19,000 acres in 2012 with a conservatively projected value of $38,000,000. This excellent rate of adoption will certainly grow over time as the industry builds seed supplies. There is particularly strong grower interest in improved new chipping varieties to meet quality requirements of eastern processing plants. Harley Blackwell fits this need in NC and other eastern states where internal defects reduce the quality of the current standard chipping variety, Atlantic. Elkton and AF0338-17 are also expected to fit this market. Lamoka and Waneta are new chipping varieties that are being rapidly adopted by the industry. Marcy adoption has been strong because it chips, has scab resistance, and has 20% higher yield than standard varieties. Specialty varieties, Adirondack Blue, Adirondack Red, Lehigh and Peter Wilcox, are being adopted by small-scale fresh market growers because of their yellow, blue, or red flesh color and excellent culinary quality.

Publications

• Haynes, K.G., D.M. Gergela, C.M. Hutchison, G.C. Yencho, M.E. Clough, M.R. Henninger, D.E. Halseth, E. Sandsted, G.A. Porter, and P.C. Ocaya. 2012. Early generation selection at multiple locations may identify potato parents that produce more widely adapted progeny. Euphytica 186: 573-583.
• Porter, G.A., G.S. Grounds, and T.Mills 2012. Variety trial and breeding program results. Proceedings of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Potato Conference, Caribou, ME. January 19, 2012 (abst).
• Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, B. MacFarline, and B. Plummer. 2012. Potato variety trial results in Maine, 2012 growing season. PSE Departmental Mimeo 2012-01, 42 pp.
• Porter, G.A., P. Ocaya, and T. Mills. 2012. Maine potato breeding program annual report, 2012 growing season. PSE Departmental Mimeo, 20 pp.