Skin Color, Scab Sensitivity and Field Performance of Lines Derived from Spontaneous Chimeras of Red Norland Potato

Abstract

On the Canadian prairies consumers favor redskinned potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), with Red Norland representing the most widely grown red-skinned cultivar. However, the skin color of Red Norland is not as red as desired, particularly after extended storage. In 2004 three Red Norland tubers which appeared to have zones of darker skin color were discovered. Plants were grown from sprouts taken from both the light and dark colored zones of these tubers. The change in skin color was stable through several generations of vegetative propagation; otherwise the plants and tubers were comparable to Red Norland. This suggests that the color change was due to a chimeral mutation in the epidermis. In field trials conducted in 2005 and 2006 over 30 lines derived from the chimeral tubers were assessed for skin color, yields, tuber conformation and sensitivity to common (Streptomyces scabies) and powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea). Lines with acceptable yield and tuber configuration as well as enhanced scab resistance and/or superior red skin color were evaluated in replicated trials conducted from 2007 to 2009. Several lines were identified that had superior red skin color relative to Red Norland, while other lines appeared more resistant to common scab than Red Norland. Yield potential of the selected lines was comparable to Red Norland and when adjusted for grade out due to excessive common scab, yields of several of the chimeral lines were superior to Red Norland. This study suggests that chimeras may represent a method for rapid, low cost improvement of skin color and common scab resistance of potato, while maintaining desirable agronomic characteristics.Resumen En las praderas canadienses, los consumidores favorecen las papas rojas (Solanum tuberosum), con Red Norland representando a la variedad de piel roja más ampliamente sembrada. No obstante, el color de la piel de Red Norland no es tan rojo como se quisiera, particularmente después de un almacenamiento prolongado. En 2004 se descubrieron tres tubérculos de Red Norland que parecían tener zonas de un color de piel más oscuro. Se cultivaron plantas desde brotes tomados de ambas zonas de estos tubérculos, la del color ligero y la del oscuro. El cambio en el color de la piel fue estable a lo largo de varias generaciones de propagación vegetativa; de manera que las plantas y los tubérculos fueron comparables a Red Norland. Esto sugiere que el cambio de color fue debido a una mutación quimérica en la epidermis. En ensayos de campo conducidos en 2005 y 2006 se evaluaron más de 30 líneas derivadas de los tubérculos quiméricos para color de piel, rendimiento, conformación de tubérculo y susceptibilidad a la roña común (Streptomyces scabies) y a la roña polvorienta (Spongospora subterránea). Se evaluaron lín-eas con rendimiento aceptable y configuración de tubér-culo, así como con aumento en resistencia a la roña y/o con color de cáscara roja superior, en ensayos con repeticiones conducidos en 2007-2009. Se identificaron varias líneas que tuvieron color de piel roja superio...

Genotype and Variable Nitrogen Effects on Tuber Yield and Quality for Red Fresh Market Potatoes in Minnesota

“…In both cases the reported value is the median of pixels in non-skinned tuber area. Dark red color is ideal for red fresh market potatoes [51].…”

Effect of foliar application of 2,4‐D and calcium on red‐skinned potato cultivars

“…These results have proven consistent across a substantial number of red‐skinned potato cultivars (Busse & Bethke, 2020; Roe et al., 2014; Rosen et al., 2009; Thornton et al., 2013; Waterer, 2010) although the effectiveness varies with environment/growth year (Roe et al., 2014; Rosen et al., 2009), the timing of application (Nylund, 1956), and cultivar (Fritz, Hebel, Borowski, & Hung, 1991; Thornton et al., 2013). Application of 2,4‐D is also at times used to decrease the proportion of oversize tubers (Fritz et al., 1991; Payne et al., 1951; Thornton et al., 2013) and may reduce skin damage caused by common scab (Waterer, 2010; Waterer, Elsadr, & McArthur, 2011). Originally developed as a phenoxy class (auxin mimic) foliar herbicide that is used to eliminate broadleaf plants from grass crops (Peterson, McMaster, Riechers, Skelton, & Stahlman, 2016), 2,4‐D is primarily used for manipulating skin color of potatoes, especially the red‐skinned ones.…”