'BRS F21Braschips': A chipping potato cultivar, with a high yield potential and resistance to PVYABSTRACT
'BRS F21Braschips' is a potato chipping cultivar, with short oval tubers, shallow eyes, yellow and smooth skin, and light yellow flesh. It has high yield potential, while dry matter content averaged 0.2% less than ‘Atlantic’.The vine maturity and tuber dormancy are medium. Tubers are susceptible to greening. It has high resistance to PVY, partial resistance to early blight, and moderate susceptibility to late blight. It shows good resistance to common scab, and low susceptibility to tuber deformation by high temperature. 'BRS F21Braschips' was protected in 2025 by the Embrapa’s potato breeding program, developed by Embrapa Clima Temperado, in Pelotas-RS and Canoinhas-SC, and Embrapa Hortaliças, in Brasilia-DF, Brazil.
Keywords:
Solanum tuberosum L.; breeding; variety; processing
RESUMO
'BRS F21Braschips' é uma cultivar de batata para chips, com tubérculo oval curto e amarelo, olhos rasos, película amarela e lisa, e polpa amarela clara. Tem elevado potencial produtivo, enquanto o teor de massa seca é na média 0.2% menor do que 'Atlantic'. A maturidade das ramas e a dormência dos tubérculos são médias. Os tubérculos são suscetíveis ao esverdeamento. Tem alta resistência ao PVY, resistência parcial à pinta preta e suscetibilidade moderada à requeima. Apresenta boa resistência à sarna comum, e é pouco suscetível à deformação dos tubérculos por temperatura elevada. 'BRS F21Braschips' foi protegida em 2025 e é produto do programa de melhoramento genético de batata da Embrapa, desenvolvido pela Embrapa Clima Temperado, em Pelotas-RS e Canoinhas-SC, e pela Embrapa Hortaliças, em Brasília-DF, Brasil.
Palavras-chave:
Solanum tuberosum L.; melhoramento genético; variedade; processamento
BRS F21Braschips' is a potato chipping cultivar developed by the Embrapa’s potato breeding program, composed by Embrapa Clima Temperado, Pelotas-RS and Canoinhas-SC, and Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília-DF, Brazil. 'BRS F21Braschips', originally named as clone F21-07-09, was selected from a cross between the cultivar White Lady (mother) and the clone C1750-15-95 (father) (Figure 1). This cross was made in a greenhouse at Embrapa Clima Temperado, in the spring of 2004. 'White Lady' is a Hungarian cultivar released by the Pannon University of Agricultural Sciences, Keszthely, Hungria (The European Cultivated Database, 2025). C1750-15-95 is a clone selected from the cross between the clone C1485-16-87 and the North American cultivar Atlantic (The Potato Association of America, 2016). The clone C1485-16-87 was derived from the cross between two clones selected by Embrapa, 2CRI1149-1-78 and A876-5-79. The first was obtained from the cross between the Dutch cultivar Recent and the clone CI1086-22-75, while the second was selected from self-fertilization of the old Brazilian cultivar Palma.
True potato seeds of the hybrid population that originated the clone F21-07-09 were sown in a greenhouse at Embrapa Clima Temperado in spring of 2004, producing seedling tubers to plant the first field generation. The selection process comprised four generations conducted in the fall of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, in fields of the Canoinhas’ Experimental Station, Canoinhas-SC, according to Pereira et al. (2016). After submitting the selected clone to cleaning in the tissue culture laboratory and production of genetic seed tubers in the hydroponic system of Embrapa Clima Temperado, it was included in comparative trials, to evaluate yield potential and stability. Clonal cleaning, via in vitro meristem culture, aims to produce disease-free seeds.
The trials were carried out during the fall and spring seasons of 2015 and 2016 in Canoinhas-SC and Pelotas-RS, and winter seasons of 2016 and 2017 in Brasilia-DF. Simultaneously, the clone was evaluated for reaction to main common potato diseases in Brazil, by Embrapa Clima Temperado in Pelotas and Embrapa Hortaliças in Brasilia. In the spring season of 2018 and fall and spring seasons of 2019, in Canoinhas and Pelotas, the clone F21-07-09 was tested in trials for the cultivation and use value (VCU), using 'Atlantic' and 'Asterix' as check cultivars. These two check cultivars were chosen because they are widely cultivated in Brazil for the production of fries due to their superior frying qualities. The morphological characterization indicated that the clone F21-07-09 displayed phenotypic and genetic distinctness, homogeneity, and stability. Concomitantly and also in the subsequent years, the clone was validated with producers. Based on good tuber appearance, high yield potential, high dry matter content, frying quality, and validation results, F21-07-09 was registered in 2023, and protected in 2025 as 'BRS F21Braschips'.
VARIETAL DESCRIPTION
Description of aerial plant parts and tubers of 'BRS F21Braschips' were achieved from evaluation fields carried out in Pelotas-RS, based on the potato variety descriptors (MAPA, 2025).
Vines: medium height, semi-upright to open growth habit and mid-season maturity.
Stems: absence of anthocyanin pigmentation.
Leaves: medium size, intermediate opening, medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green, absence of anthocyanin pigmentation on the central midrib of the upper side, absence of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets.
Leaflets: medium-narrowing size, without waves in the margins and with medium frequency of secondary leaflets (Figure 2a).
Inflorescence: medium to low frequency of inflorescences per plant, with absence of anthocyanin pigmentation on the peduncle.
Corolla: absence of anthocyanin pigmentation on inner side (Figure 2b).
Fruits: absence of fruits.
Tubers: yellow, short oval shape, shallow eyes, smooth skin, and light yellow flesh (Figure 2c).
Sprouts: small to medium size, spherical shape, intermediate apex, strong intensity of anthocyanin pigmentation at the base, average proportion of blue in the anthocyanin pigmentation at the base, sparse pubescence at the base, medium size of the apex in relation to the base, intermediate to close aspect of the apex, weak to medium anthocyanin pigmentation of the apex, sparse pubescence of the apex, medium to high number of rootlets, medium to short length of lateral shoots (Figure 2d). For this evaluation, 10 tubers were maintained in natural conditions until the point where apical dominance was overcome and the sprouting of lateral buds began.
Morphological characteristics of the cultivar 'BRS F21Braschips': (a) compound leaf, (b) inflorescence, (c) external and internal tubers appearance, and (d) sprout. Pelotas-RS, Embrapa, 2004 to 2025.
AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE
In five trials, carried out in the south region of Brazil (Canoinhas-SC and Pelotas-RS), 'BRS F21Braschips' had average marketable tuber yield higher (p<0.05) than the standard check 'Atlantic', in three trials, and higher than 'Asterix' in four trials (Table 1). In average total tuber yield, the superiority of 'BRS F21Braschips’ was even more evident, not differing from Atlantic in just one trial.
On average over the five trials, 'BRS F21Braschips’ produced 26.2% more commercial tubers than 'Atlantic' and 74.5% more than 'Asterix'. The total yield of 'BRS F21Braschips' was 58.73% and 67.6% superior to 'Atlantic' and 'Asterix', respectively.
In three trial locations, dry matter content has been comparable to 'Atlantic', while it has averaged 0.7% less than 'Atlantic' (Figure 3).
Dry matter content (%) of cultivar ‘BRS F21Braschips’ compared to Atlantic and Asterix, in Canoinhas-SC (average of spring season of 2018 and 2019) and Brasilia-DF (winter season of 2019), Brazil. Pelotas-RS, Embrapa, 2025.
QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND USAGE
'BRS F21Braschips' was specifically bred for processing into chips, showing a high dry matter content (21.3%) (Figure 2) and relatively low glucose content (0.078%), which result in crispy, light-colored final product. This cultivar also has a good general appearance and sensory characteristics that make it suitable for the fresh market. When cooked, it maintains its texture and presents moderate cohesion, a characteristic flavor and no off-taste. For the cooking process, 10 tubers were boiled in water at 100°C until cooked through. They were considered cooked when a fork could easily pierce them.
DISEASE REACTION
Data on resistance of the 'BRS F21Braschips' to late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont) de Bary), obtained from three field trials carried out in fall seasons, in Pelotas, are presented in Table 2. The results of the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) varied from susceptible in 2018 and 2019 to resistant in 2021, suggesting moderate susceptibility of this cultivar to late blight. These differences among crops/years can be attributed to the fact that quantitative resistance can be affected by differences of aggressiveness or virulence of the plant pathogens, and environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture (Xue et al., 2019).
Tested for resistance to early blight caused by alternaria (Alternaria grandis Simmons), in the greenhouse and in the field, Brasilia-DF and Rio Parnaiba-MG, 'BRS F21Braschips' showed partial resistance (Lourenço Junior et al., 2020), what also gives it an advantage for integrated disease control over most of the commercial varieties in Brazil.
In field tests for resistance to major viruses, under conditions of natural infection, 'BRS F21Braschips' showed resistance to mosaic caused by Potato virus Y (PVY). The evaluation was carried out in Brasilia. For this test, a plot with 20 plants of 'BRS F21Braschips' were cultivated next to a plot with the cultivar 'Atlantic', both with cleaned seeds, and in the middle one plot of 'Asterix' with infected seeds. The expressions of symptoms in the plants were evaluated at 45-50 days after planting, using a specific antiserum, in the DAS-ELISA test (double antibody sandwich - Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay) (Clark & Adams, 1977). As the result of this test, it was observed that only the ‘Atlantic’ plants were naturally infected.
'BRS F21Braschips' showed good resistance to common scab (Streptomyces spp.) in the field. Regarding to other diseases, field observations indicated consistently that susceptibility/resistance reactions of 'BRS F21Braschips' to soft rot (Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp.), stem canker and black scurf (Rhizoctoni asolani Kühn), and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are not different from the main cultivars planted in the country.
MOLECULAR PROFILE
The molecular profile of 'BRS F21Braschips' was obtained for four microsatellite loci (STM0019: 257/ 177/152 pb; STPoAc58: 264/243 pb; STI0012: 201/191 pb and STI0032: 140 pb) that compose the genetic identity kit developed for potatoes (Ghislain et al., 2009), following the protocol described by the authors. The products of PCR amplification were detected using the LabChip GX Touch microfluidic capillary electrophoresis system (Revvity) with the 24 DNA 1K/12K/HI Senschip and HT DNA HS Reagent Kit. The molecular profile of this cultivar is distinct from ‘Atlantic’ for two of the four loci evaluated (STM0019 and STI0032). The analysis of any of these loci differentiates the two cultivars.
CROP MANAGEMENT
Management practices for 'BRS F21Braschips' are, in general, common to those used in other mid-maturity cultivars. This cultivar, from 8-months refrigerated seed tubers produce a higher number of stems per plant (8.25 - 8.36) than ‘Atlantic’ (5.08 -6.11), requiring adjustment in stem density of the crop as observed by Silva et al. (2024).
Observations on crop management, despite the limited number of studies, indicate that 'BRS F21Braschips' has a good tolerance to the herbicide metribuzin in applications according to the product label.
It is important to consider that harvesting should be carried out when the plants are fully mature, that is, with dry stems, to meet the processing requirements of higher dry matter content and lower sugar content in the tubers, necessary to obtain good quality chips.
'BRS F21Braschips' is better adapted to the fall and spring seasons (plantings in February-March and August-September, respectively) of the South region, and to the summer season (plantings in October-December) of high-altitude areas of the South region, and to the winter harvest (plantings in May-July) in the Southeast and Central-West regions of the country.
REGISTRATION, SEED AVAILABILITY, AND LICENSING
The potato cultivar 'BRS F21Braschips' is registered and protected by the Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA) of Brazil since 29/05/2024 under the number 56737, and provisional protection certificate from 07/07/2025, under the number 20250133.
Information about seeds can be obtained from Embrapa Clima Temperado / Estação Experimental Canoinhas, Rodovia BR 280, Km 231, no1151, Bairro Industrial 2, CEP 89466-500, Canoinhas-SC.
Phone: +55 (47) 3624-0127, 3624-0195, and 3624-2077. E-mail: cpact.eecan@embrapa.br
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To the support team for the Potato Breeding Program, Embrapa Clima Temperado, Pelotas-RS and Canoinhas-SC, and to Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília-DF, for their assistance in carrying out laboratory and field work. Also, to the Associação Brasileira da Batata (ABBA), growers and technicians, and other individual growers, and seed producers, for their contribution in carrying out validation field and marketing tests. The development of this cultivarwas only possible with multidisciplinary work, each in their own area of knowledge and expertise, including the breeding phase, selection, characterization for disease resistance, processing quality, and agronomic performance in the different locations evaluated.
REFERENCES
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- SILVA, GO; PEREIRA, AS; AZEVEDO, FQ; EMYGDIO, BM; BORTOLETTO, AC; FELDBERG, NP; CARVALHO, ADF; RODRIGUES, EMP; RAGASSI, CF. 2024. Crescimento, acúmulo e distribuição de matéria fresca em clones de batata na Região Sul do Brasil. Revista de Ciências Agroambientais 22: 1-19.
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THE POTATO ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA. 2016. Atlantic (Solanum tuberosum). Available at:Available at:https://www.europotato.org/varieties/view/Atlantic-E AccessedSeptember 27, 2025.
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» https://www.europotato.org/varieties/view/Rioja-E - XUE, W; HAYNES, KG; QU, X. 2019. Characterization of early blight resistance in potato cultivars. Plant disease 103: 629-637.
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All authors allow Horticultura Brasileira to publish the manuscript.
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Data availability:
Data will be made available upon request to the corresponding author.
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Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process:
No generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were used in the writing process.
Data will be made available upon request to the corresponding author.
