Pacific Russet

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Russet Burbank' and 'Russet Norkotah'

Summary: 'Pacific Russet' has oblong tubers, whereas those of the two reference varieties are long. The light sprout of 'Pacific Russet' is ovoid whereas both 'Russet Burbank' and 'Russet Norkotah' have conical shaped light sprouts. 'Pacific Russet' has significantly less anthocyanin colouration at the base of the light sprout than the references. 'Pacific Russet' differs from the other candidate variety 'Alta Russet' in flower colour.

Description:

'Pacific Russet' has an erect growth habit and produces an intermediate type plant which is medium in height. The stem has no anthocyanin colouration and is medium in thickness. The stem wings are conspicuous and straight single. The stem nodes have slight swelling and have no anthocyanin colouration. 'Pacific Russet' produces many branches.

'Pacific Russet' has medium green leaves with pubescence on the lower surface. The leaf silhouette is closed. The leaf rachis has no anthocyanin colouration. There is pubescence on the top and bottom of the leaf rachis. The petiole has no anthocyanin and the stipules are medium in size. The terminal leaflet is medium ovate in shape with an acuminate shaped tip and truncate base which is asymmetrical. The margin has weak waviness. On average, there are four pairs of primary leaflets which are medium in size. The primary leaflets are medium ovate in shape with an acuminate shaped tip and asymmetrical, truncate base. There are four to eleven secondary and tertiary leaflets.

'Pacific Russet' has a high flowering profusion and produces a medium number of florets per inflorescence. The flower bud has no anthocyanin colouration and the buds are persistent. The flowers are white with no anthocyanin colouration on the inner side or outer side. The corolla is medium in size with a very prominent star. The calyx and peduncle have no anthocyanin. The anthers are orange and arranged in a broad cone shape. The stigma is capitate in shape and dark green in colour. Berry production is low.

The tuber has brown skin with no secondary colour. The skin texture is russetted and the tuber shape is oblong. The tuber eyes are shallow in depth, intermediate in number and are evenly distributed. The tuber eyebrows are not prominent. The flesh is white in colour with no secondary colour. There are a medium number of tubers per plant.

The light sprout of 'Pacific Russet' is ovoid in shape. The base has weak pubescence and weak, blue-violet anthocyanin colouration. The tip habit is medium. The tip has medium pubescence and is green, with no anthocyanin colouration. There are a medium number of light sprout root initials and the protrusion of lenticels is moderate. The lateral shoots are short.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Pacific Russet' originated from a cross made at the Lethbridge Research Centre of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada in 1987. The female parent was 'NDA8694-3' and the male parent was 'Century Russet'. 'NDA8694-3' is a smooth russet skinned breeding clone from North Dakota State University, resistant to common scab, but susceptible to Verticillium wilt. 'Century Russet' is a high yielding smooth russet skinned cultivar, highly resistant to Verticillium wilt. The first four field generations of selection occurred at the Vauxhall Research substation with subsequent evaluation in the Western Canadian Regional Potato trials. The variety was tested under the experimental designation V0168-3.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Pacific Russet' were conducted at Vauxhall, Alberta in 2003. The trials consisted of 30 metre rows of each variety. The plants within each row were planted 30cm apart, and the spacing between the rows was 90cm. Measured characteristics were based on 50 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Pacific Russet' with reference varieties 'Russet Burbank' and 'Russet Norkotah'

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Tuber length (mm)

Tuber width (mm)

Tuber thickness (mm)