b'2019 Fresh Market Potato TrialCrystal, North Dakota by Dr Asunta (Susie) Thompson, NDSU Potato BreederAbout20%ofproductionintheRed NDSUpotatobreedingprogramand after Labor Day.RiverValleyandtheCentralSandsof potato improvement team create, devel-Minnesota is potatoes for the fresh mar- op, and evaluate hundreds of selections Agronomic evaluations, including standket, including red and yellow skinned annually in the search for exceptional and maturity, are summarized in Tablecultivars.ProducersinNorthDakota genotypes. 1.Percentage stand ranged from 88 toand Minnesota lead production of red- 100%;ND1382-3Rhadthepoorestskinned cultivars, and certified seed pro- As part of our evaluation process, non- stand at 88%, while many entries hadducersmarkettoUSandCanadian irrigated research sites included Crystal complete stands.Vine size significantlyfreshmarketproducersimpactingall and Hoople, North Dakota, where fresh differed, as expected, and ranged fromseasonalmarkets.RedandDarkRed marketandchipprocessingselections very small for ND1240-2R, to very largeNorland selections, Red LaSoda, Sangre, are evaluated, respectively.These non- forRedPontiacandRomanze.OurYukonGold,amongstothersarepre- irrigatedsiteswerehamperedsignifi- emphasis is on identifying high yieldingdominant, however, many of the popu- cantly by a lack of rainfall during sum- early maturing cultivars and selectionslar cultivars have weaknesses, including mer 2019, with substantial rain develop- suitableforourshortgrowingseason,the salt and peppering (lack of uniform ing in early September.The Crystal site and vine maturity ranged from early forredskincolor)fortheNorlandselec- ishostedbyDaveandAndyMoquist ND102990B-3Rtomediumlatefortions, patchy russeting on Sangre, deep (O.C.Schulz& Sons),andtwotrials many,includingAND07130-2R,eyes for Red LaSoda, and the propensity were conducted, the preliminary fresh ND6002-1R, ND1382-2R, ND13292B-3Rfor hollow heart in Yukon Gold due to markettrialandtheadvancedfresh andRomanze.ND1382-2Ralsoratedlow tuber set and rapid enlargement of market trial.The Fresh Market trial had medium late in 2018.Germplasm usedtubers. 30 entries, while the preliminary fresh inbreedingfromotherprogramsandmarket trial included 90 entries.Many forincorporationofdiseaseresistanceSuperiorimprovedcultivarswithuni- selectionslookverypromisingand traitsandqualityattributesgenerallyform bright red skin color and retention resultsoftheadvancedfreshmarket have later maturity than desired for ourthroughout storage, glossy skin finish, trial are summarized here (Tables 1-3). growingregion,thusidentifyinglinesdisease resistance to silver scurf, black combiningearlymaturityandthesedotandotherdiseasesanddefects The trial was planted on May 17, 2019, important characteristics is often diffi-affecting appearance and internal quali- two weeks earlier and timelier than in cult.Stemnumbersperplantrangedty, and high yield potential using mini- 2018.The field plot design was a ran- from1.6forYukonGoldto3.4formal inputs are traits desired by the fresh domized complete block with four repli- ND102663B-3R.Stemsperplantareindustry.Recently,muchinteresthas cates,andculturalpracticestypicalof reflectiveofseedqualityattributesbeen in cultivars and advancing selec- thegrowingregionwereused.Rows includingphysiologicalage,seedsize,tionsthatproduceanoverallsmaller were spaced 36 inches apart, with a 12- tuber eye number (a genetic trait), andtuber size profile, although there con- inchwithin-rowspacing.Vineswere lengthofdormancy(agenetictraittinues to be a strong market for A-Size, desiccated on approximately September highly influenced by the environment);as well.There are also growers, packers 9,andthetrialwasharvestedon overallseedqualitywasexcellent.andurbanhorticulturistsinsearchof October7,withdaystovinekilland Optimum numbers will generally be ingenotypes with unique skin and/or flesh harvesttotaling115and143days, the 1.5 to 3.0 stem range, and if an over-colorscombinedwithexcellentflavor respectively.Harvest was delayed due to all smaller tuber size profile is desired,attributes for specialty marketing.The thewetconditionswhichdeveloped growers may manipulate stem numbers10 POTATO GROWER APRIL 2020'