Palisade Russet is a new processing variety released by the USDA-ARS and University of Idaho potato breeding program in Aberdeen, Idaho, in collaboration with Oregon State University, Washington State University and the USDA-ARS at Prosser, Wash.
Known experimentally as A97066-42LB, this variety is a 1997 cross between breeding clones AWN86514-2 and A86102-6, with resistance to foliar and tuber late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, as well as Verticillium wilt, black dot and pink rot. It also has a moderate level of resistance to tuber net necrosis, PVY and early blight of both the foliage and tuber. It has excellent resistance to sugar ends, with percentages consistently being < 8 percent following storage of tubers at 45 degrees F.
Palisade Russet has higher specific gravities (tuber starch content) in western production regions of the U.S. than is generally acceptable by the western processing industry. However, in potato production regions with inherently low specific gravities, Palisade Russet has excellent potential as a processing cultivar. In addition, the disease resistances of Palisade Russet make it a good candidate for organic production, or for use by growers seeking reduced pesticide inputs.
Palisade Russet has a medium-large, erect vine with medium-late maturity. It produces oblong tubers with brown, lightly russeted skin and white flesh. The eyes are intermediate in depth and number and are evenly distributed. Palisade Russet is similar to Russet Burbank with a lower set of medium-sized tubers. Tuber dormancy is between that of Russet Burbank (long dormancy) and Ranger Russet (medium dormancy).
Palisade Russet was evaluated over a five-year period in trials conducted in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Total yields of Palisade Russet were very similar to Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank when averaged across all three states. U.S. No. 1 yields of Palisade Russet consistently exceeded that of Russet Burbank at all locations. Palisade Russet also exceeded the U.S. No. 1 yield of Ranger Russet at the Oregon and Washington trial sites. The percentage of total yield that could be categorized as U.S. No. 1 was highest for Palisade Russet at all locations.
The average specific gravity and percent solids was consistently higher for Palisade Russet than that of Ranger Russet or Russet Burbank in 22 trials grown in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Palisade Russet produced similar fry color out of 45-degree F storage, and the average percent sugar ends for Palisade Russet was consistently and substantially lower (= 8 percent) than percentages observed for either Ranger Russet or Russet Burbank.
Palisade Russet has a lower incidence of growth cracks, second growth, black spot bruise and hollow heart than Russet Burbank, particularly under high-stress conditions. Its susceptibility to black spot bruise has been lower than Ranger Russet, but it has exhibited similar susceptibility to growth cracks, second growth and hollow heart. One of the weaknesses of Palisade Russet is dry rot, with the percentage of potatoes with dry rot being significantly higher compared to Russet Burbank on inoculated controlled trials. On the basis of these results, additional care during harvest and handling is recommended for Palisade Russet to mitigate wounding, which will allow for entry and infection of tubers by Fusarium. Palisade Russet is also slightly more susceptible to shatter bruise relative to Russet Burbank and Range Russet.
Tuber dormancy length of Palisade Russet is about 40 days shorter than Russet Burbank when held at storage temperatures ranging from 42 to 48 degrees F. Two years of comprehensive storage evaluations showed that although Palisade Russet had higher sucrose percentages than Russet Burbank during long-term storage, glucose percentages were consistently lower than Russet Burbank following 250 days of storage at 42, 45 and 48 degrees F, and well below the 0.10 percent threshold above when fry color becomes unacceptable.
Fry color is lightest (USDA 1 or lighter) at 45 and 48 degrees F storage temperatures, with the 48-degree F temperature ameliorating seasonal variability in sugar content and fry color. Palisade Russet can be successfully stored for fresh market up to nine months with minimal degradation in quality and in the absence of problematic disease development within the storage.
Palisade Russet holds promise as a medium-late russet with excellent disease resistance and processing potential in areas where high specific gravity is not usually a problem.
For more information regarding finding seed or acquiring a license to grow seed, contact PVMI at (541) 318-1485 or email jeannedebons@msn.com. For additional information about Palisade Russet and other Tri-State varieties, visit www.pvmi.org.