In today's produce environment, consumer-preference trends indicate that uniqueness of product is gaining in importance when purchases are made. As a result, miniature and unusually-colored fruits and vegetables are showing up in produce sections everywhere.

Specialty potatoes are also following this trend. In recent years, the yellow-flesh potato has perked the interest of potato connoisseurs. In order to assist Texas potato growers to obtain a significant share of this emerging market, Dr. Creighton Miller, potato breeder at Texas A&M University, has included the development of yellow-flesh potatoes in his program.

During the 1999 growing season, advanced selections from this effort were tested in trials conducted at three locations across the state: Dalhart, Dilley, and Spring Lake. The results of the Dalhart trial are reported herein.

Ten yellow-flesh entries were evaluated in a randomized block design with four replicates. Each entry plot consisted of a single 36-inch-wide raised bed 18 feet 9 inches in length. Plants were spaced 9 inches apart within the bed. The test site was a Dallam loamy sand located in a grower's field near Dalhart. The plots were fertilized with 300 lbs/A N plus 40 lbs/A P2O5 plus 100 lbs/a K20. Supplemental water was applied as needed, using a center-pivot irrigation system. All other cultural practices were as normally applied by the grower. The test was planted on May 18, vine-killed on October 4, and hand-harvested on October 11. Results obtained from this trial are presented in Table 1.

Yukon Gold-CS (Colorado seed source) was found to be the highest-yielding entry in the trials, producing 457.1 cwt/A. Molli was a close second, producing 454.2 cwt/A. However, no statistically significant differences were found -- under the conditions of this study -- between these two varieties and Delikat, FL 1944, Yukon Gold-TX (Texas seed source), and TX1674-/WY.

Although the variety Molli was the next-to-highest-yielding variety, average tuber size (3.1 oz) was less than desirable. A similar situation was evident with tubers of the variety Delikat. FL1994 was also found to be one of the higher-yielding lines in the trial. Unfortunately, this line also produced the highest percentage of culls and No. 2-size tubers (38.4 percent). The lowest percentage of culls and No. 2-size tubers was produced by two of the three TAMU lines: TX1674-W/Y and the yellow-flesh russet selection TX 1523-1 Ru/y.

The variety Valisa produced tubers having a very attractive internal yellow flesh color, but possessed a very unattractive external appearance.

Based on the results of this evaluation, the TAMU breeding line TX 1674-W/Y compared very favorably with both Yukon Gold entries. Although the yield from the Yukon entries exceeded the yield from TX 1674-W/Y, it should be noted that plant-stand in the Yukon varieties was 90 percent or better. For some unexplained reason, stand in the TX 1674-W/Y was only 75 percent. In addition, the overall variety-rating data indicated that TX 1674-W/Y and Yukon Gold-TX were superior to the other entries.

For specific information on this or other yellow-flesh trials in Texas, contact Dr. Creighton Miller, (979) 845-3828, jcmillerjr@tamu.edu or Dr. Frank J. Dainello, (979) 845-8567, f-dainello@tamu.edu