Boulder: A Round White Multipurpose Potato Variety

American Journal of Potato Research,  Nov/Dec 2003  by Douches, D S,  Coombs, J,  Jastrzebski, K,  Hammerschmidt, R,  Et al

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ABSTRACT

Boulder is a round white selection with medium specific gravity that can be used in both the tablestock and chip-processing markets. The tubers will chip process out-of-the-field and from 10 C storage. The tubers of Boulder are large in size with a low incidence of internal defects. Boulder was tested in Michigan State University trials, the North Central Regional trials, on-farm trials in Michigan and other out-of-state replicated agronomic trials. Under irrigated conditions in Michigan, the yield is similar to or better than Atlantic, but specific gravity is less. Boulder has a full-season vine maturity that is similar to Snowden, but the tubers size early. Based upon our trials, an in-row spacing of less than 25.4 cm to reduce the percentage of oversize tubers is recommended. In simulated bruise tests, Boulder had less blackspot bruising than Atlantic, but was more blackspot susceptible than Onaway. Based upon five years of trials, Boulder has resistance to scab that is greater than Atlantic, but less than Onaway.

RESUMEN

Boulder es una seleccion redondeada con cascara o piel blanca y de gravedad especifica mediana, que puede ser utilizada tanto para uso de mesa y para hervir como tambien para mercado de procesamiento de hojuelas. Los tubercules pueden ser procesados en hojuelas directamente del campo o del almacenamiento a 10 C. Los tuberculos de Boulder son de tamano grande con una baja incidencia de defectos internos. Boulder fue evaluada en ensayos de la Universidad de Michigan, ensayos de la region norte central, ensayos en fincas de agricultores y otros ensayos replicados realizados fuera del estado, para caracteristicas agronomicas. Bajo condiciones de irigacion en Michigan, el rendimiento es similar o mejor al de la variedad Atlantic, pero la gravedad especifica es menor. Boulder tiene madurez de la vid de temporada completa muy similar a la variedad Snowden, pero de tuberizacion y llenado de tuberculos temprana. Basado en nuestros ensayos, recomendamos sembrar los tuberculos a menos de 25.4 cm entre plantas en el surco o camellon para reducir el porcentaje de tuberculos demasiado grandes. En la prueba de magulladura simulada, Boulder tenia menos mancha en la piel al magullar que Atlantic y era mas susceptible a mancha en la piel que Onaway. Basado en cinco anos de ensayos, Boulder es mas resistente a la sarna de la papa que Atlantic, pero menos resistente que Onaway.

Accepted for publication 21 July 2003.

ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS: Solanum tuberosum.

BACKGROUND

Boulder is a new round white potato variety (Solanum tuberosum L.) developed at Michigan State University that can be grown for either the tablestock or chip-processing markets. Boulder was evaluated as seedling number MSF373-8. It is a selection from a cross made in 1993 between the moderately scab-resistant breeding line MS702-80 and chip-processing breeding line NY88 from Cornell University for the purpose of breeding scab-resistant chip-processing varieties. The pedigree of Boulder is described in Figure 1. The name Boulder was chosen to describe the set of large tubers with low incidence of internal defects.

Boulder is a round white chip-processing variety with a small set of large, bright-skinned tubers (Figure 2). The tubers have a low level of internal defects. The primary strength of this variety is its high yield potential combined with a small set of large A-size tubers across many environments. In addition to trials in Michigan (breeding program research and on-farm grower trials), Boulder was tested in the North Central Regional trials.

The seedling generation was grown in 1994, followed by two years of selection and seed multiplication at the Lake City Experiment Station, Lake City, MI. Seed increase was located at the Lake City Experiment Station. Since 1998, Boulder has been tested in replicated agronomic trials at the Montcalm Research Farm, Entrican, MI, and in the scab nursery at the Michigan State University Soils Farm, East Lansing, MI. In 2000 it was entered into grower on-farm trials in Michigan and the North Central Regional Trial. In 2001 Boulder was placed into commercial seed production.

VARIETAL DESCRIPTION

Plant Vine and Foliage

Growth habit: Medium to tall height, semi-erect with a balance between stems and foliage visible. Stems: Anthocyanin medium, wings are medium. Leaves: Medium-green (Royal Horticulture Society [R.H.S.] Color Chart value 137A) with medium dense, short pubescence; open leaf silhouette; petiole anthocyanin coloration is weak; leaf stipules are medium sized. Terminal leaflets: Medium ovate with acuminate tip and cordate base, with slight leaflet margin waviness. Primary leaflets: Five pairs per leaf, narrowly ovate, with acuminate tip and cordate base. Secondary and tertiary leaflets: four pairs. Vine maturity: full season (145 days).

Inflorescence

Twenty to 30 with an average of 24 per plant; mean of 18 florets per inflorescence. Corolla: Semi-stellate in shape with a violet color (R.H.S. Color Chart value 84C). Calyx: Anthocyanin coloration medium. Anthers: Narrow cone shape with a yellow-orange color (R.H.S. Color Chart value 17A). Stigma: Capitate and green (R.H.S. Color Chart value 147B). Fertility: Pollen shed is abundant and female fertility is average. Fruit set in the field is low.