The importance of the potato to the economies of both Minnesota and North Dakota are highlighted in this article. In 1977, potatoes were North Dakota's 5th ranked in value. 'Dakchip's' history is given. This is the result of a crossbreeding between Cascade and Norchip. It's characteristics afre detailed

Farnsworth, Bryce

Johansen, R.H.

Lana, E. P.

Nelson, D. C.

Orr, P. H.

Secor, Gary A.

NDSU Libraries Institutional Repository

Dakchip, A New Potato Variety R. H. Johansen, G. A. Secor, Bryce Farnsworth, D. C. Nelson, P. H. Orr and E. P. Lana The potato chip industry has become very important for North Dakota and Minnesota, and in particular for the Red River Valley production area of those states. With potatoes contributing practically all the income from the horti­cultural crops grown in the Red River Valley, the chip industry has become an important segment for generating or boosting farm income. It is estimated that in 1978,9 million cwt or 24 per cent of the potatoes grown in the Red River Valley were sold as chipping potatoes. Potatoes ranked 5th in value of North Dakota crops in 1977. Dakchip was tested and grown under the pedigree num­ber ND8888·2. The selection or clone originated from a cross between Cascade and Norchip. The Norchip variety was developed and named by North Dakota State Uni­versity in 1968, while the Cascade variety originated from the USDA potato breeding program at Prosser, Washington. The cross resulting in Dakchip was made in 1970 and the seedling was grown in the greenhouse the same year. The seedling tuber was grown in the field at the Langdon Agricultural Experiment Station in 1971, at which time Dakcrup was selected from among the 27 ,000 seedlings. Dakchip is a round to oblong, wrute-skinned variety. It is medium late in maturity and has an excellent plant type with a broad, smooth, dark green leaf. The plant is slightly spreading. Vine growth is very uniform and plant vigor is excellent. Dakchip has moderate resistance to late blight but is susceptible to most viruses and some races of common scab. It does not seem to be very susceptib Ie to blackleg and wilts. Six year tests for U.S. No.1 yield at Park River (Table 1) indicate Dakchip yields comparable to Kennebec and higher than Norchip. However, five year tests for U. S. No.1 at Grand Forks showed Dakchip to out-yield both Kennebec and Norchip (Table 1). Compared to Norchip, Dakchip has a higher total and U. S. No.1 yield and has much better overall plant growth. Specific gravity or total solids is a measure of the dry matter or overall quality of a potato variety. A potato variety with high total solids has several important advan­tages over one with low total solids. For example, a high total solids variety makes a better baking and processing varietyand for the crupper it means a higher chip yield and less oil absorption for the processed product. Less energy is also used in removing water when processing a high total solids variety. Norchip's very rugh total solids is one reason for its popularity with most chip manufacturers. In trials at Park River, a six year test (Table 2) showed Dakchip to be higher in total solids than Kennebec but not as high as Norchip. Similar total solids were obtained in trials at Grand Forks (Table 2). Table 1. U.S. No.1 Yield of Dakchip and Two Standard Varieties Grown at Park River and Grand Forks. 1974-1979. (CWT/ACRE) 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 Average Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Variety River Forks River Forks River Forks River Forks River Forks1.l River Forks River Forks Dakchip 250 190 341 275 213 245 392 329 212 258 249 278 258 Kennebec 255 191 390 271 178 225 397 287 308 219 201 291 235 Norchip 214 213 382 297 182 216 282 283 238 180 176 246 237 JJNo data - plot flooded out. Johansen is professor ofhorticulture, Secor is assistant pro­fessor ofplant pathology, Farnsworth is research technician in horticulture, Nelson is professor ofhorticulture and Lana is chairman, Department ofHorticulture. 22 Table 2. Per Cent Total Solids of Dakchip and Two Standard Varieties Grown at Park River and Grand Forks. 1974-1979. 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 Average Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Variety River Forks River Forks River Forks River Forks River Forks!! River Forks River Forks Dakchip 20.1 18.4 22.7 22.0 22.0 22.9 20.3 19.7 19.2 22.4 21.4 21.1 20.9 Kennebec 18.4 17.3 20.9 20.7 19.0 21.4 17.1 17.7 19.7 22.0 20.9 19.5 19.6 Norchip 21.6 20.1 23.5 23.1 22.2 23.3 21.4 21.4 21.2 22.7 22.4 22.1 22.1 .1JNo data - plot flooded out. Chip color tests and per cent chip yield are found in Limited plantings elsewhere in the United States and Table 3. Chipping tests indicate that Dakchip is quite Canada indicate Dakchip could have fairly wide adapt· comparable to Kennebec in chip quality but probably ability. not quite as good as Norchip. To date, Norchip is one In 1979, 164 acres were grown as certified seed in North of the top chipping varieties grown in theU. S. Dakota and 15 acres were grown in Minnesota. A list of Dakchip has a very short rest period and emerges quickly seed growers having certified seed of Dakchip may be ob­after planting, resulting in good plant stands. In addition to tained by writing to the North Dakota Certified Seed the Midwest, Dakchip seems to be quite well-adapted to the Department, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105, or the Minnesota Southern and Southwestern part of the United States. State Seed Department, 620 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55101. Table 3. 	Color Chart ReadingsYand Per Cent Recoverable Chip Yield of Dakchip and Two Standard Chipping Varieties Grown at Park River and Grand Forks.V Color Chart % Chip Yield Ave. % 1977 1978 1977 1978 Color Chart Chip Yield Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Park Grand Variety River Forks River Forks River Forks River Forks River Forks River Forks Dakchip 5.5 6.5 6.5 6.3 36.7 34.2 38.0 35.5 6.0 6.4 37.7 34.9 Kennebec 4.0 6.0 5.0 6.2 34.5 30.5 31.5 31.0 4.5 6.1 33.0 30.8 Norchip 6.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 38.5 32.7 34.5 36.0 5.5 4.5 36.5 34.4 lkI Color Chart (1 = very white; 10 = very dark) 1Grown in replicated variety trials in 1976 and 1977. 

Dakchip, A New Potato Variety

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NDSU Libraries Institutional Repository