The Cornell potato breeding program, under the leadership of Robert Plaisted, has released several new varieties and numbered clones that show very good promise for tablestock and/or chipping markets for the Northeast. Performance information presented here was collected from trials grown by university, Extension and grower cooperators in Pennsylvania and New York as well as from the Northeast Regional Project NE-184 and the national Snack Food Association potato chip variety trials. It should be noted that for many potato varieties grown in our upstate trials the “standard” cultural practices of nine-inch spacing and 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre produces optimal maturity, yield and quality.

Andover (NYE11-45): Early vine maturity similar to Superior. It has very rapid emergence (earlier than Superior) and early tuber set, so is suitable for early to midseason tablestock and chipstock utilization. Andover was developed from a cross between Allegany and Atlantic and has relatively high specific gravity for an early variety (about .009 specific gravity units below Atlantic).

Plants are medium in height, semi-erect, with white flowers. Tubers are slightly oblong in shape with a buff colored, flaky textured skin. Dormancy is about two weeks longer than Atlantic or Katahdin. Tubers are large and are relatively free of internal defects. Under stress leaves display necrotic areas similar to early blight, but these symptoms are probably caused by physiological factors such as air pollution or heat stress. Andover has resistance to scab and the golden nematode.

Yields in early harvested trials in New York over seven seasons were 101% of Superior, while full season trials produced marketable yields of 107% of Monona and 87% of Atlantic. Andover chips well from the field or from short or long term storage (45°F). Suggested cultural practices include a six- to eight-inch spacing with 120 to 140 lbs. N/A for an early fall harvest or 150 to 170 lbs. N/A for a full season crop.

Eva (NY103): A midseason tablestock entry with very attractive tubers that have a very bright smooth skin with shallow eyes. Tubers are uniform with a round to oval shape. There are very few internal and external defects if care is taken to do a good job of hilling to minimize greening and tubers are mature at harvest to avoid skinning of the thin skin.

Marketable yield averaged 106% of Atlantic in 35 upstate New York trials. Scab resistance is similar to Monona. It is resistant to the golden nematode, PVX and PVY. Tuber dormancy is very long, almost seven weeks longer than Atlantic or Katahdin. Specific gravity is intermediate, averaging about .014 units below Atlantic. While chip quality from 45 degrees F storage is similar to Monona, it can be variable. This factor, plus the lower gravity level, indicate some concern for use in chip processing. Recommended cultural practices include pre-warming and pre-cutting seed several weeks in advance of planting to speed up emergence and enhance yield, seven to nine inch plant spacing, and 125 to 150 lbs. N/A.

Keuka Gold (NY101): This is a medium-late maturity tablestock clone with pale yellow flesh. Tubers are large, very round, uniform, have a flaky skin texture and a buff skin color. Vine growth is vigorous with white flowers. Very high yields over many growing conditions with low external defects, but internal necrosis has been frequently seen on Long Island. The variety is resistant to scab and the golden nematode. Specific gravity is intermediate, close to that of Katahdin. The scurfy skin, internal necrosis and occasionally prominent lenticels may impact marketability from some production areas. Because tuber set is high, about 1.5 times that of Atlantic or Katahdin, a seven- to nine-inch spacing with 150 lbs. N/A is recommended. Keuka Gold should not be planted at locations where internal necrosis is a recurring problem.

Pike (NYE55-35): A medium-late maturity chipstock variety slightly earlier than Snowden. It sets a relatively high number of round tubers with a buff skin color and flaky texture. While tuber appearance is good, sloughing and some aftercooking darkening may limit tablestock use.

Plants are of medium height, partially spreading, with white flowers. Pike produces light-colored chips from long term storage (45 degrees F). Tuber dormancy is two weeks longer than Katahdin and Atlantic.

Pike was developed from a cross between Allegany and Atlantic and has very high specific gravity equal to Snowden. Tuber size is medium to small, with a susceptibility to heat necrosis when exposed to high temperatures.

Pike is resistant to the golden nematode and is very scab resistant. Marketable yield is similar to Atlantic and Snowden. Due to its higher tuber set, spacing between nine to 11 inches and 150 to 170 lbs. N/A is recommended.

Reba (NY87): Maturity is mid-season similar to Atlantic or Monona. Tuber skin color is buff and very bright and smooth in texture, while shape ranges from oval to oblong. This variety chips well from 45 degrees F storage and also is acceptable for tablestock as it does not slough during boiling and has little aftercooking darkening.

Tuber size is larger than Atlantic and may have some hollow heart in the largest tubers. Reba was developed from a cross between Monona and Allegany. Plants are medium to tall in height and semi- erect with white flowers. Specific gravity has been about .013 units below Atlantic and .006 units above Monona. It is resistant to the golden nematode and moderately resistant to scab, early blight and verticillium wilt. Early season yields are similar to Superior and full season yields exceed those for Atlantic, Katahdin and Snowden. Recommended cultural practices are a six- to eight-inch spacing, 150 lbs. N/A, and 50 degrees F storage if intended for chipping.