Evaluation of yield and quality of five potato cultivars grown in Southwest Virginia

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Atlantic, BelRus, Kennebec, Superior, and Yukon Gold, grown at six locations in Southwest Virginia, were analyzed for yield, percent dry weight, specific gravity, soluble protein, and ascorbic acid. Thereafter. tubers were cold stored at 3 C for six weeks, reconditioned at 25 C for two weeks, and analyzed for percent dry weight, specific gravity, soluble protein, and ascorbic acid. Potato grown in one location was analyzed for glucose, fructose, sucrose, and total sugars. Another experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed type and in-row spacing on yield and quality of Yukon Gold.

Cultivar and location influenced yield and quality of potato at harvest, after cold storage, and following reconditioning. Kennebec, Atlantic, and Yukon Gold produced higher yield of US No. 1 tubers than Superior and BelRus. Atlantic and BelRus had higher percent dry weight and specific gravity than the other cultivars. Specific gravity increased during cold storage and following reconditioning. Percent dry weight increased during reconditioning but did not change during cold storage.