Defender: a high-yielding, processing potato cultivar with foliar and tuber resistance to late blight

• Published in: American journal of potato research Vol. 83; no. 1; pp. 9 - 19
• Main Authors: Novy, R.G, Love, S.L, Corsini, D.L, Pavek, J.J, Whitworth, J.L, Mosley, A.R, James, S.R, Hane, D.C, Shock, C.C, Rykbost, K.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; crop yield; Cultivars; disease resistance; food processing quality; food quality; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungal diseases of plants; genetic resistance; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; germplasm releases; high-yielding varieties; Pest resistance; Phytophthora infestans; plant pathogenic fungi; Plant pathogens; potatoes; sensory properties; Solanum tuberosum; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Oregon; Idaho; Washington; United States; North America; America; Ascorbic acid; Plant pathogen; Solanum tuberosum; vitamin C; Phycomycetes; organic production; Plant leaf; Fungus resistance; Fungi; variety; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Phytophthora infestans; Tuber; Spermatophyta; Tuber plant; Solanaceae; Thallophyta; Cultivar; breeding
• ISSN: 1099-209X; 1874-9380
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02869605

The potato cultivar Defender is high-yielding, white-skinned, and notable for having foliar and tuber resistance to late blight infection caused byPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. It was released in 2004 by the USDA-ARS and the agricultural experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Defender is suitable for processing into french fries and other frozen potato products directly from the field or from storage. Defender also may be used for fresh markets in regions such as California, where cultivars with long tubers and white skin are traditionally grown. Resistances to late blight and other potato diseases make Defender an ideal candidate for organic potato production. Defender consistently produced greater total and U.S. No. 1 yields than 'Russet Burbank' in Idaho trials. In early harvest trials conducted in the western U.S., average total yields of Defender were 17% and 23% greater than yields for 'Ranger Russet' and 'Shepody', respectively. In full-season trials conducted in the western U.S., Defender averaged 10% and 15% higher yields than Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank, respectively. Specific gravity of Defender is consistently high, with values comparable to those of Ranger Russet; tuber ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) levels are also high. In addition to late blight, Defender also is resistant to tuber early blight (Alternaria solani, (Ellis & G. Martin), L.R. Jones & Grout), potato virus X, and net necrosis; it has moderate levels of resistance to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae, Kleb), pink rot, foliar early blight, corky ringspot, and Erwinia soft rot. Defender is susceptible to scab (common and powdery) and potato leafroll virus; it has moderate susceptibility to dry rot (Fusarium spp.) and potato virus Y. Susceptibilities to internal necrosis, tuber greening, and blackspot bruise also have been noted, but may be minimized through cultural and harvest practices.