Intraclonal Selection for Improved Processing of NB ‘Russet Burbank’ Potato

'Russet Burbank' has limited fertility and has not parented improved cultivars through traditional breeding efforts. This study showed that 'Russet Burbank' (NB clone) could be improved through selection of intraclones (somatic embryos derived from specific tuber tissues) based on field performance and/or processing characteristics. In 2005 and 2006, approx. 800 intraclones were regenerated from field-grown tubers or microtubers. Intraclones were micropropagated, acclimatized, and field-tested to identify the highest yielding lines. Each season, following storage, tubers of selected lines were tested for glucose content and French fry-processing quality. In 2007, the best intraclones from earlier seasons were increased through micropropagation and retested for yield and processing features. Approx. 2-9% of intraclones had similar yield to controls but superior processing features. Neither tuber source nor explant tissue type affected intraclone tuber yield, type, or processing characters. We recommend the incorporation of somatic embryogenesis into potato improvement programs for processing quality traits.