Yukon Gem: A Yellow-Fleshed Potato Cultivar Suitable for Fresh-Pack and Processing with Resistances to PVY O and Late Blight

Yukon Gem is a yellow-fleshed, medium to early-maturing cultivar suitable for fresh-pack or processing with a high level of resistance to potato virus Y O , and moderate foliar and tuber resistance to late blight. Multiple trials demonstrated a higher yield potential than Yukon Gold (yellow-fleshed industry standard). Yukon Gem produces uniform attractive tubers with light yellow skin and splashes of pink around the eyes; with flesh color similar to Yukon Gold. Yukon Gem was obtained from the intercrossing of Brodick and Yukon Gold at North Dakota State University (NDSU). An NDSU seedling tuber was sent and selected at Aberdeen, ID in 1995 and designated NDA5507-3YF. It advanced through the Aberdeen potato breeding program and regional trials in the western and northwestern U.S. Yukon Gem was released in 2006 by the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and is a product of the Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program.