Cultivar Corner: Alpine Russet
Parentage: A8343-12 x A85103-3
Developers: Tri-State Variety Development Program
Plant Variety Protection: Applied for, administered by PVMI.
Strengths: High-yielding, resistance to sugar ends and other physiological disorders, longer dormancy (average of 10 days) than Russet Burbank, reduced nitrogen requirements compared to Russet Burbank, and more tolerant of water stress.
Weakness: Lightly russetted skin may make it less favorable for fresh pack.
Morphological Characteristics
Plant: Medium to late maturity. Semi-erect vine, medium green foliage with weakly pigmented stems and petioles. Flowers are red purple and produce abundant pollen, making it a suitable male in hybridizations. Berry set in the field is moderate.
Tubers: Attractive, oblong and blocky tubers with light russet skin and white flesh. Eyes are shallow and found primarily on the apical end.
Agronomic Characteristics
Maturity: Medium to late
Tubers: Oblong, with light russet skin and white flesh. Tuber set is slightly lower than for Russet Burbank.
Yield Potential: High total and U.S. No. 1 yield
Specific Gravity: Medium to high (1.082 avg. in northwest locations)
Culinary Quality: Suited primarily for the processing market from the field and long term storage. Fry color is excellent from 42˚ F, 45˚ F and 48˚ F storage, although mottling can occur following 42˚ F storage; thus making 45F and warmer storage recommended. Glucose content is low. Total glycoalkaloids are acceptable (about 2.5 mg/100g fresh weight).
Diseases/Physiological Disorders: Resistance to sugar ends, tuber malformations, and most internal and external physiological disorders. Alpine Russet has moderate resistance to Verticillium wilt and common scab. It is susceptible to foliar and tuber late blight, PVY (expresses typical mosaic symptoms), and Fusarium dry rot, among others.
Storability: Dormancy is long, similar or superior to Russet Burbank.
Incentives for Production: High-yield and high percentage of US No. 1 tubers, resistance to sugar ends and other physiological disorders, long dormancy, reduced nitrogen and water needs relative to Russet Burbank.
Seed Availability: Certified seed is available from growers in Idaho.
