R. V. Akeley

Kennebec: A new potato variety resistant to late blight, mild mosaic, and net necrosis

SummaryThe Kennebec is a new variety of potato that combines high yield and good cooking quality with a high degree of resistance to late blight in both vines and tubers. In field-exposure tests it has not yet shown the symptoms of mild mosaic or net necrosis. It is late in maturing as grown in Maine, but has been considered medium-late in tests in other States. It is widely adapted. It produces smooth, well-shaped tubers with shallow eyes. Like all other varieties of potatoes, it varies in quality according to the environment in which it is grown and the cultural practices of the growers. As produced in the test plots on Aroostook Farm, Presque Isle, Maine, it has shown excellent market and cooking quality. The keeping qualities in storage appear to be excellent. Kennebec should replace Katahdin in some sections because of its higher yielding ability, its superior cooking quality, and its high degree of resistance to late blight. It should replace Sebago to a large extent because of a higher degree of resistance to late blight and because the tubers of Kennebec are more easily detached from the vines at harvest time than are those of Sebago.

Potato utilization in relation to variety (Heredity) and environment

Potato utilization is a subject that is freely discussed especially in years of surplus. Utilization in its broadest sense includes the use made of potatoes whether consumed in the fresh state, processed before they reach the ultimate consumer, fed to live stock, used for seed, or exported, and regardless of the way in which potatoes are utilized, variety, and the environment in which the potatoes are grown play important parts. In 1952 the total potato production in the United States was 347.5 million bushels. Three and two-tenths million bushels were imported, making a total supply of 350.7 million bushels (1) . Roughly, 74 per cent of the total supply, or 259.1 million bushels, were used fresh: 6 per cent in farm homes, 51 per cent in urban homes, and 17 per cent in restaurants. The total amount processed before reaching the ultimate consumer was approximately 35 miUion bushels, or nearly 10 per cent of the total supply. Feed for livestock and shrinkage amounted to approximately 19 million bushels, or a little over 5 per cent. About 34 million bushels or 10 per cent were used for seed and 3.5 million bushels, or 1 per cent, was exported. It might be noted that in 1952 the amount imported, 3.2 million bushels, was very close to the amount exported. 3.5 million bushels. The data on potato utilization in the United States in 1952 adapted from a table prepared bv A. g. Mercker. United States Department of Agriculture, published by \~Tilliam M. Case in the ~ralley Potato Grower are given in table l.

Wauseon: A new potato variety resistant to golden nematode with good processing quality

Wauseon was released December 7, 1967, by the Crops Research Division of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station of New York. Wauseon, tested under the pedigree number B5036-40, was selected from a cross between U S D A seedling B5149-8 and Katahdin. The seedling ]35149-8 was selected for a parent because of its midseason maturity and resistance to late blight, scab, latent mosaic, and the golden nematode (Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.) . The Katahdin parent is widely known for its adaptation and resistance to mild mosaic and net necrosis. The pedigree of Wauseon follows:

Protein, nonprotein, and total nitrogen in seedlings of potatoes

Analyses for secific gravity, total solids, total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, and nonprotein nitrogen are reported for 73 seedling samples grown in Maine, and for 10 selections grown in Idaho. The interactions between the various constituents, as indicated by regression analysis, are discussed. These samples indicate a potential for breeding a variety of potato with a higher than average protein content, but further work is necessary to determine the inheritance pattern. This work is in progress.ResumenSe reportan análisis para investigar gravedad específica, sólidos totales, nitrógeno de proteinas y nitrógeno de otros compuestos no proteínicos de 73 muestras de brotes crecidos en Maine y de 10 selecciones crecidas en Idaho. Se discuten las interacciones entre los varios constituyentes, como están indicadas por el análisis de regresión. Estas muestras indican un potencial de producir una variedad de papa con un contenido de proteina más alto que él promedio pero se necesita trabajo adicional para determinar el modo de herencia. Este trabajo está en progreso.

Merrimack: A new variety of potato resistant to late blight and ring rot and adapted to New Hampshire

SummaryMerrimack is a variety of potato bred by the United States Department of Agriculture and tested in New Hampshire. Maine, and elsewhere as part of the work of the National Potato-Breeding Program. Merrimack competed favorably with standard varieties in New Hampshire. It produced satisfactory yields of potatoes, with a relatively high dry-matter content from which excellent chips and french fries were made.In the Maine tests it did not yield as well as some of the standard varieties but in tests it was found to be highly resistant to, if not immune from, the common race of the late blight fungus in both vines and tubers. It is moderately resistant also to early blight, and was apparently fieldimmune from virus A and highly resistant to net necrosis. Its vines are very susceptible to leaf roll virus. Merrimack is not only highly resistant to ring rot but is the first variety released that is highly resistant to both late blight and ring rot. Its multiple-disease resistance should make it valuable, especially to growers who find it difficult to control late blight and ring rot in standard varieties.

Monona: A new variety of potato, distinctive for excellent chip color after numerous storage treatments

SummaryMonona is a new medium-early variety of potato, distinctive for the excellent color of its chips after numerous storage treatments, and possesses resistance to mild and rugose mosaic diseases. It was produced from a cross of a selection from Katahdin, selfed with a selection of Chippewa selfed.

Potato wart in America

SummaryPotato wart is still confined to restricted areas in Pennsylvania, from which state it was first reported. Its spread has been controlled by temperature and moisture relationships, by immune varieties, and by strict regulations that have been applied to the importation of foreign potatoes, as well as those governing the growing of potatoes in the infested area. Recently the problem has become more critical, as at least three biotypes of the organism have been isolated in Europe, and a number of varieties there that have been considered immune from wart are susceptible to the new races. So far there has been no evidence of the occurrence of new biotypes in the United States, but there is no assurance that new forms having greater virulence and a wider range of adaptation will not be found.The wart reaction of 14 new American varieties and the Dutch variety President indicates that Katahdin, Mohawk, Sequoia, Mesaba, and Norkota are to be considered immune, and that Houma is very resistant.A total of 117 seedlings from 14 crosses and 2 selfed lines was tested. Segregation for resistance occurred in 10 of these lines. Seven of these ten progenies had Katahdin as a parent. Two selfed lines of Katahdin showed, after grouping, about 50 per cent of their seedlings to be very resistant to wart.Sixty other seedling varieties of value as parents and commercial sorts were also tested, and 11 were found immune; 4, very resistant, and 45, susceptible.

Penobscot: A new variety of potato with leafroll resistance and high solids

SummaryPenobscot is a variety of potato bred primarily for leafroll resistance by the United States Department of Agriculture and tested cooperatively in Maine and other States as part of the National Potato-Breeding Program. The tubers of Penobscot are oblong to ovate in shape with light-cream, buff skin and medium-deep eyes. In the Maine tests, yields of Penobscot compared favorably with those of Kennebec, Katahdin, and Irish Cobbler. The specific gravity values of Penobscot were relatively high and usually exceeded those of three other commercial varieties grown in Maine. Penobscot was similar to Kennebec in chipping qualities determined both after harvest and after storage at 38 F followed by reconditioning, but its French fry color index and texture were slightly less favorable than Kennebec when fried after harvest. Penobscot possesses field immunity from mild mosaic and has considerably more resistance to leafroll in the field than the standard varieties now being grown. Its favorable processing qualities, high specific gravity, and its good yielding ability, along with its disease resistance, are all characteristics that should help to make Penobscot a valuable variety for both grower and processor.

Chieftain: A red-skinned potato with attractive appearance and broad adaptability

SummaryChieftain is a red potato with an attractive appearance, good yield and medium maturity. Its primary area of adaptabililty is in the North Central States. Chieftain has shown immunity to the common races of late blight, medium to high resistance to common scab, field resistance to mild mosaic, tuber resistance to stem-end browning and tuber resistance to net necrosis caused by current season leafroll. Chieftain has excellent quality after boiling but does not make acceptable chips after cold storage. The parentage of Chieftain includes Cherokee, Progress, Pontiac, Houma, Katahdin andS. acaule.ResumenLa variedad Chieftain es una papa roja con una atractiva apariencia, buenos rendimientos y madurez media. Su area primaria de adaptación es en los estados Nor-Centrales de los E.E.U.U. La variedad ha exhibido immunidad a las razas communes dePhytophthora, resistencia de media a superior a commune sarma, resistencia en el campo al mosaico, “chocolate.” de la papa (la mancha proximo al punto donde se une con el tallo) y a la necrosís causada por corriente encrespaduras de hoja. Tiene una excellente calidad después de hervir, pero no hace aceptable papas fritas después del depositado en cámaras frias. Los antecesores de la variedad incluyen Cherokee, Progress, Pontiac, Houma, Katahdin yS. acaule.

A program for breeding industrial potato varieties

SummaryA program for breeding industrial potato varieties has been described in detail. Starch analyses and dry matter determinations, germination of seed in sucrose solutions, and field selections of plants capable of maximum radiant absorption with “open” type vine growth, corrugated leaflets, and pubescence all are being employed in the breeding and selection of seedlings possessing outstanding potentialities for high starch and dry matter production. Promising seedlings are being increased and finally will be field-tested for economic production of starch per acre under intensive cultural conditions.