Century Russet

Century Russet is a medium- to late-maturing fresh market potato released in 1993 by Oregon State University (contact the San Luis Valley Research Center for additional information).

Plant/roots It emerges quickly, produces a medium to large, upright vine and white flowers; has an indeterminate growth habit; moderate, concentrated root system. This cultivar is somewhat resistant to hail damage.

Tubers are white fleshed, long to slightly oblong with a light russet skin. Eyes are shallow, numerous and well distributed; medium specific gravity (1.080).

Yield potential 450 to 500 cwt. range with a high percentage of No. l's.

GROWING SEASON MANAGEMENT

Pre-planting considerations Tubers have a medium to long dormancy; whole or cut seed is acceptable. Warm seed about two weeks at 60 F prior to cutting and planting to assure even sprouting and germination. Plant this cultivar 2 to 4 inches deep in a good hill to control tuber greening.

Fertility (soil test basis; lbs/acre)

Apply total fertilizer in the following range: N(l 30-1 60#), P(l 20-200#), K(O-60#). Performance in alkaline soils is excellent. Pre-plant incorporated N should be 90 to 1 00#. Early season N applications do not adversely affect the timing of tuberization. Sprinkler applied N should be 40 to 70# at a rate of 20# per application, no later than one month prior to vine kill to assure proper tuber maturation.

Irrigation Irrigation interval at the maximum ET is three days. Drought tolerance is moderate.

Pest control

Weeds Competes well against weeds and is not sensitive to any major herbicide.

Insects Standard insect control measures generally are effective.

Fungicides Two to four fungicide applications may be needed for the control of foliar early blight.

Tuber/bulking Tuber set is medium, somewhat high in the hill. Greening may be a problem without good hill management. Tuber bulking is rapid, early in the season; moderately resistant to blackspot and resistant to growth cracks, second growth and hollow heart.

Vine kill Average days from planting to vine kill are 1 00 to 1 1 0. Vine killing usually is required and may be difficult if plants are immature due to excess N. Mature vines are essential for adequate skin set to occur in two to three weeks.

STORAGE MANAGEMENT

Century has few storage problems, except it is extremely susceptible to early blight tuber decay! For this reason it is not considered a long-term storage potato. A mature tuber with good skin set is an essential pre-requisite for storage!

DISEASE REACTION

Overall disease problems are minimal. Bacterial ring rot symptom expression is adequate and will occur within 90 days after planting. Potato leafroll virus symptoms usually are quite mild during the early part of the season with little or no plant color change. By mid-season, however, symptoms are readily detected. PVY expression is severe, resulting in stunted necrotic plants that die by mid-season.

Field

Foliar early blight Susceptible

Verticillium wilt Susceptible

Blackleg Susceptible

Seedpiece decay Susceptible

Leafroll virus Susceptible

Leafroll Net necrosis Unknown

PVY Susceptible

PVX Susceptible

Common Scab Unknown

Bacterial ring rot Susceptible

Storage

Tuber early blight Very Susceptible

Bacterial soft rot Susceptible

Fusarium dry rot Susceptible

Leak (Pythium) Susceptible

Pink rot (Phytophthora) Susceptible

Silver scurf Susceptible

Rhizoctonia scurf Moderate

Disease reaction ratings susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderate, moderately resistant and

resistant.

Note: This information should only be used as a guide. Adjustments for local conditions must always be made.