Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, School of Land Resources Management, University of Alaska
Abstract
A program of field research relating to the commercial production o f potatoes
was initiated in 1982 at the University of Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station ’s research center in Palmer. T he experimental fields are located at the
Matanuska Research Farm on Trunk Road near Palmer. This program is a modified
continuation of a potato research program initiated more than 30 years ago by
D r. C .H . Dearborn. Whereas the major emphasis of D r. Dearborn ’s potato program
w as variety development and testing, the major emphasis here is study o f
general cultural practices, disease development and control, and the comparative
evaluation (yield trials) o f potato varieties having commercial potential.
Plans call for the comparative evaluation of thirty to forty named varieties or
numbered selections each year. Varieties are selected for testing on the basis o f
yield potential, general quality characteristics, and disease resistance. An attempt
is made to include all varieties grow n commercially in the state, newly developed
varieties from breeding program s in the U .S ., Canada, and elsewhere, as well
as established varieties that have yet to be thoroughly tested in this environment.
Commercial varieties with locally proven “ track record s ," such as Alaska 114,
Bakeking, Green Mountain, and Superior will serve as a comparative base for
m ore recently introduced varieites. New varieties will be tested for 4-5 years before
being dropped , kept for further study, or recommended to commercial growers.
Summarized in this circular are the results o f three years o f variety trials (1982,
’83, and ’84). Also included are summaries of environmental conditions at or near
the experimental test site and some detailed information about several locally grown
commercial varieties.Introduction -- Weather Data Summary: 1982 -- Weather Data Summary: 1983 -- Weather Data Summary: 1984 -- Yield Data Summary -- Variety Descriptions -- See