MSU researchers develop 5 new potato varieties to bolster US chip supply

The potatoes behind America’s potato chips are getting an upgrade. Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) have developed five new potato varieties designed to help strengthen the U.S. chip supply by improving disease resistance, long-term storage and processing reliability.

The varieties — Manistee, Mackinaw, Petoskey, Huron Chipper and Blackberry — are the result of more than two decades of breeding research led by MSU potato breeder David Douches. Together, they were created to help growers produce potatoes that can store for months, withstand disease pressure and consistently fry light and crisp — even late in the processing season.

“Potato chips are made year-round, but potatoes are harvested once a year,” said Douches, professor in MSU’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences. “If a variety can’t maintain quality in storage or handle disease pressure, that affects the entire supply chain.”

Michigan is widely recognized as the nation’s leading producer of potatoes grown specifically for potato chips. Roughly 70% of the state’s potato crop is destined for chip processing, and industry estimates suggest that about one in four bags of potato chips eaten in the United States contains Michigan-grown potatoes.

Because chip production operates year-round, storage performance is critical. Potatoes must maintain low sugar levels and structural integrity for up to eight months to ensure consistent color and flavor when fried. Breakdowns during storage can result in significant losses for growers and processors.

That’s where these five varieties come in.

“These potatoes are about resilience,” Douches said. “Every resistance trait we build into a variety is one less vulnerability in the system.”

“Potatoes may look simple,” Douches said. “But breeding them to meet modern demands is anything but.”

Source: MSUTODAY. Full article here
Image: Dave Douches, director of MSU’s Potato Breeding and Genetics Program, holds a potato chip in his hand during a taste testing. Photo credit: Mike Householder, Associated Press.