PVMI Varieties Available
All potato breeding selections, referred to as clones, go through a strenuous evaluation process before they are released as varieties. This process can take as many as 15 years and involves hundreds of tests. Tens of thousands of inferior selections are eliminated in the process, leaving only the best clones. Advanced clones have a high probability of being released as new varieties. These clones are evaluated by growers and users and require industry acceptance as part of the process prior to release. The Tri-State breeding program works closely with the industry and growers to evaluate all aspects of each advanced clone using a system of Material Transfer Agreements, referred to as MTAs. These allow for growers to get advanced lines, test them under field circumstances and allow for enough quantity to be built up so evaluations of processing traits can be considered under actual plant conditions. This stage of grower evaluation is conducted over several years while the advanced clone is still part of the Western Regional Trials.
Russets
| Variety | Marketing Qualities |
| Alpine Russet |
Alpine Russet (A9305-10) is
a high yielding, medium to late maturing cultivar with
oblong tubers, light russet skin and good processing quality
following long-term storage. Alpine Russet Seed Growers |
| Alturas |
Alturas (A82360-7) is used
primarily for processing, with its light russeting limiting
its use for fresh-pack; however, it has been rated highly
for its culinary quality. It is notable for its high yields
and solids, and coldsweetening resistance. Alturas Seed Growers |
| Blazer Russet |
Blazer Russet (A8893-1) is an
early-maturing, dual-purpose variety that has found a niche within
the processing industry as a replacement for Shepody. Its attractive
appearance and excellent culinary qualities also make it a good
candidate for fresh pack. Blazer Russet Seed Growers |
| Castle Russet |
Castle Russet (POR06V12-3) is a long, medium to late russet suitable
for the fresh and processing markets with an exceptional disease resistance package
including PVY and fusarium resistance. It has been highly rated for culinary quality. Castle Russet Seed Growers |
| Classic Russet |
Classic Russet (A95109-1) is an
early-maturing, russeted clone that produces a high
percentage of U.S. No. 1 tubers. Its attractive tubers make
it very suitable for use by the fresh-pack industry and
could also be used as an early processor. Classic Russet Seed Growers |
| Clearwater Russet |
Clearwater Russet (AOA95154-1) is medium-late maturing,
with oblong-long tubers that have medium-russet skin. Tubers
exhibit excellent fry color out of storage and their
attractiveness make this variety suitable for both
processing and fresh market usage. Clearwater Russet Seed Growers |
| Defender |
Defender (A90586-11) is high yielding,
lightly russeted, suitable for processing into French fries and other frozen potato
products directly from the field or from short term storage.
Defender may also be used for fresh
markets. Defender Russet Seed Growers |
| Echo Russet |
Echo Russet (AO96141-3) is a high yielding, long, medium to late
russet with cold sweetening resistance and excellent processing qualities. It has
resistance to Fusarium and
Erwinia and good culinary qualities. Echo Russet Seed Growers |
| Galena Russet |
Galena Russet (A03141-6) is a high yielding, medium to late French
fry processing potato with attractive tubers, cold sweetening resistance, a high
percent US No. 1 and high protein content. Galenat Seed Growers |
| Gem Russet |
Gem Russet (A8495-1) is a medium to
late maturing, medium to high yielding variety with long
tuber type and medium russet skin. It is useful for both
the fresh and processing markets. Gem Russet Seed Growers |
| GemStar Russet |
GemStar Russet (A9014-2) is a dual
purpose variety suitable for processing and fresh-pack usage. It has
high U.S. No. 1 yields with very attractive tubers having few
external defects and higher concentrations of Vitamin C and protein
than other potato cultivars. GemStar Russet Seed Growers |
| Highland Russet |
Highland Russet (A9045-7) is a mid to late season
variety notable for its high yield of uniform, oblong-long, lightly
russetted tubers. Shows good potential for the processing
market, although its light skin may limit its acceptance on
the fresh market. Highland Russet Seed Growers |
| La Belle Russet |
La Belle Russet (A06021-1T), released in 2019, is
an early to medium maturing variety with good early-season yields and dormancy
comparable to Russet Burbank. La Belle Russet’s high early-season U.S. No. 1 yields, coupled with excellent
culinary and nutritional qualities, also make it an excellent candidate for fresh
market production. La Belle Russet Seed Growers |
| Mountain Gem Russet |
Mountain Gem Russet (A03158-2TE1) is a medium to
late maturing variety with both high early and full season total and U.S. No. 1 yields.
Coupled with excellent culinary and nutritional qualities, this makes it an excellent
candidate for fresh market production. Mountain Gem Russet Seed Growers |
| Owyhee Russet |
Owyhee Russet (AO96160-3) is a medium to
late maturing selection from Oregon with medium yields and long,
medium heavily russetted tubers. An attractive tuber with high
counts of US No.1. Owyhee Russet Seed Growers |
| Palisade Russet |
Palisade Russet (A97066-42LB)
produces oblong tubers with brown, lightly russeted skin and
white flesh. Good candidate for organic production, fresh
and processing market with Late Blight Resistance. Palisade Russet Seed Growers |
| Payette Russet |
Payette Russet (A02057-2LB),
medium skinned with excellent processing and disease resistance qualities,
this is a full-season variety with higher yields of oblong, medium-russeted
tubers. Payette has resistance to tuber malformations and most internal and
external defects. Payette Russet Seed Growers |
| Pomerelle Russet |
Pomerelle Russet (A02062-1TE) is a dual
purpose russet, with a medium heavy russet and uniform tubers. Relative to
industry standard varieties, it has greater resistance to soft rot, corky
ringspot and tuber infections from late blight. Pomerelle Russet Seed Growers |
| Premier Russet |
Premier Russet (A93157-6LS) tastes good and makes a fine looking tuber. It is a mid to
late season variety notable for its high yield of oblong-long
medium russeted tubers. Premier Russet Seed Growers |
| Rainier Russet |
Rainier Russet (AO06191-1) is a superior tasting potato with high fresh packout , an average
tuber size of 10 oz. and long dormancy. Russet Norkotah, move over. Rainier Russet Seed Growers |
| Sage Russet |
Sage Russet (AO96164-1) is currently in the
process of being released. It has a medium-early maturity
and produces long, somewhat flattened tubers with medium
russetting. Sage Russet Seed Growers |
| Targhee Russet |
Targhee Russet (A01010-1) produces a high yield of attractive,
long tubers with medium-russeted skin. Targhee has significantly higher protein
and vitamin C contents than those of most standard varieties. Targhee Russet Seed Growers |
| Teton Russet |
Teton Russet (A0008-1TE) is a
cross between Blazer Russet and
Classic Russet. The tubers are
oblong with moderate russet, good skin and shallow eyes. Teton Russet Seed Growers |
Specialty
| Variety | Marketing Qualities |
| AmaRosa |
AmaRosa (POR01PG22-1) is a mid season long
red fleshed fingerling for the fresh market with very high
culinary quality. AmaRosa Seed Growers |
| Huckleberry Gold |
Huckleberry Gold (A99326-1PY)
produces round to oval tubers with purple skin and yellow
flesh noted for its excellent culinary qualities and
high level of antioxidants Huckleberry Gold Seed Growers |
| IdaRose |
IdaRose (A82705-1R) is a medium to late
maturing selection with bright red skin and round tuber type for the
fresh market. It is high yielding, has excellent eye appeal, and
good culinary quality. It has long dormancy. IdaRose Seed Growers |
| Ivory Crisp |
Ivory Crisp (NDO1496-1) is an early
chipping variety with high specific gravity and medium to
high yield. It has good cold chipping potential and
long-term storage capability. Ivory Crisp Seed Growers |
|
Mazama (NDO2686-6R) is an early maturing
clone with oval, bright red skinned tubers suitable for
table use and the red-skinned creamer market. Uniformly
bright red skin color that does not fade in storage and has
shallow eyes. Mazama Seed Growers |
|
|
Modoc (NDO4300-1R) is an early maturing,
round to oval, red skinned clone suitable for fresh market
use. Tubers are a uniform bright skin color that does
not fade in storage and has shallow eye depth. Modoc Seed Growers |
|
| Purple Pelisse |
Purple Pelisse (POR01PG16-1)
is a mid season specialty potato with purple skin and dark
purple flesh. An excellent tasting colored fingerling, high
in antioxidants, ideal for fresh fingerling market with few
tuber defects. Purple Pelisse Seed Growers |
| Red Sunset |
Red Sunset
(AO93487-2R)
produces high marketable yield with excellent fresh market
quality. This
bright red skinned, mid to early maturing variety also has
high Vitamin C content. Red Sunset Seed Growers |
| Smilin' Eyes |
Smilin' Eyes (POR02PG26-5) is a new variety released by the
Tri-State Potato Research and Breeding team. It is an outstanding yellow
fleshed, yellow skinned round tuber with pink “smilin’ eyes.” Smilin' Eyes Seed Growers |
| TerraRossa |
TerraRossa (POR01PG20-12) was released
in 2012. A mid season specialty
potato with red skin and red flesh. Unique among
commercially available varieties for the oblong tubers have
very high culinary quality. TerraRossa Seed Growers |
|
Willamette (AO91812-1) is a high
yielding round white variety with excellent chipping
qualities. Willamette Seed Growers |
|
| Yukon Gem |
Yukon Gem (NDA5507-3Y) is a mid-season
selection with light-yellow flesh and higher yield potential
than Yukon Gold (its paternal parent). It produces round to
oval, light yellow skin with pink splash around the eyes.
The eyes are intermediate in depth and number and are evenly
distributed. Yukon Gem Seed Growers |
| Yukon Nugget |
Yukon Nugget (POR02PG37-2) is a better yielding replacement for Yukon Gold.
It produces round tubers with yellow skin and small red eyes. The eyes are intermediate in depth and
number well distributed. Tubers are smaller than Yukon Gold but have a more even size distribution.. Yukon Nugget Seed Growers |
PVMI, the Potato Variety Management Institute, is a non-profit, grower controlled company responsible for promoting and administering the new potato varieties out of the Tri-State Breeding Program (Idaho, Oregon and Washington). In order to grow any of the newly released (or existing) PVMI varieties (see table at the end of the article), a sub-license needs to be in place. In order to grow any of the advanced clones for field evaluation an MTA must be in place. If you are not a current PVMI licensee a participation fee (equivalent to the annual license) is required in addition to the MTA. License fees are dependent on the location of the seed grower. For more information please call PVMI at (541) 318-1485.
Tri-State Varieties Not Administered by PVMI
| Variety | Marketing Qualities |
| Umatilla Russet |
Umatilla Russet (AO82611-7)
a moderately late maturing variety especially suitable for
processing and fresh market use. The contact for licensing and royalty payments is OCCD@oregonstate.edu. |
| Western Russet | Western Russet (A7961-1) is a multi-purpose variety that produces medium to high yields of oblong tubers with medium russet skin suitable for processing and fresh market use with higher concentrations of Vitamin C than Russet Burbank. |