Description - PDF (34 kb)
Pictures - PDF (277 kb)
Click on image for larger view
General
- Origin & Breeding: colour mutant of the Pontiac variety discovered in Florida by J.W. Weston. Pontiac was bred by the USDA from (Katahdin x Bliss Triumph) and selected at the Potato Experimental Farm, Lake City, Michigan, in 1931.
- Year registered in Canada: 1955
- Registration number: 645
- Maturity: mid-season to late.
Botanical Features
- Plants: large, slightly spreading; stems thick, prominently angled; nodes slightly reddish purple; wings prominent and double.
- Leaves: moderately open, medium to large, broadly ovate; midribs reddish purple at the attachment of the primary leaflets.
Terminal leaflets: tip obtuse; base partially truncate.
Primary leaflets: four pairs.
Secondary leaflets: numerous, on the midrib between pairs of primary leaflets and at the junctions of the midrib and petiolules. - Flowers: large, light purple with white tips.
- Tubers: oblong to round; smooth, sometimes netted, red skin; medium deep eyes; white flesh.
- Sprouts: dark reddish purple.
Agricultural Features
High yielding variety of attractive appearance, widely adapted (especially to muck soils). Some drought resistance, bruises easily; susceptible to air cracking at harvest. Low total solids. Good storability, medium dormancy.
- Utilization: fair to good for boiling, baking, chipping and French frying depending on maturity.
- Chief Market: one of the most popular red skinned variety world wide.
Reaction to Diseases
Moderately resistant: black leg, tuber net necrosis.
Susceptible: PVA, PVX, PVY, leaf roll, common scab, fusarium dry rot, late blight, verticillium wilt.
References: 1, 6.
Send your comments to cfia.potatosection-sectiondespommesdeterre.acia@inspection.gc.ca regarding potato variety descriptions.