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Fresh Market White-Skinned Potato Varieties for Commercial Production in Northeast Florida1
C.M. Hutchinson, J.M. White, D.P. Weingartner2The production qualities of potato varieties are of interest to growers, state and county faculty, regulatory agency personnel, home gardeners, and others. This information may be used to compare variety performance among farms, to develop production regulations, or to compare standard varieties with new varieties.
Potatoes are produced on approximately 40,000 acres in Florida. The largest concentration of potato acreage (20,000 acres) is in Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns counties in northeast Florida. The majority of acreage in northeast Florida is planted in chipping potato varieties. However, red and white-skinned fresh market potatoes are also grown. Potato planting begins in this area in late December and continues through early March. Potatoes are harvested from late April through June.
The information presented in this report is averaged from trials over the last four years at the Hastings REC located in St. Johns County. Calculating averages over a multi-year period normalizes data to account for climatic and seed source differences. Potato production characteristics for the same variety vary greatly around the state of Florida. Hence, these values only represent what may be expected in northeast Florida production areas. Yields from experimental plots can be higher than those from commercial fields because of the greater control over production practices. This information should be considered a guideline for production qualities rather than viewed in absolute terms.
The standard white-skinned potato variety grown in Florida is La Chipper. However, all the varieties and clones listed in this report are either currently in production in Florida, under advanced variety evaluation, or are standards in other regions of the United States. The number of trials in which the variety has been evaluated is listed in parentheses following the variety name. All potato varieties were produced using IFAS recommended production practices (Hochmuth et al., 2001) and rated using the Florida potato variety classification system (Table 1 ). Season length from planting to harvest was approximately 100 days. Tubers noted as "marketable" were USDA grades A1, A2, and A3.
The attributes of a good fresh market white-skinned potato variety are disease resistance in the plant, abundant tuber production, low tuber specific gravity, low incidence of physiological and disease defects in the tuber, and a bright skin color.
Variety Information
Adora (2). Average total and marketable yield were 185 and 159 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is cream to light yellow. Tuber shape is oblong to mostly oblong with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is decumbent with a fair canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as completely dead. Heat sprouts have been noted with this variety at harvest. In two trials, no internal tuber defects were observed. Average specific gravity for Adora tubers was 1.059. This potato variety has a nice, uniform barrel shape tuber.Katahdin (6). Average total and marketable yield were 346 and 305 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a slightly netted to moderately smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is white to cream. Tuber shape is round to oblong to mostly oblong with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is upright with a poor canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as yellow and dying to completely dead. Internal browning was observed in 4.0% of tubers tested. Average specific gravity for Katahdin tubers was 1.065. Flat tubers have been noted with this variety at harvest.
Kennebec (10). Average total and marketable yield were 391 and 350 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a smooth to moderately smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is white. Tuber shape is mostly oblong with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is upright with a good canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as moderately mature to yellow and dying. Over all tests, corky ringspot viral disease and internal browning were each observed in 1.0% of tubers tested. Average specific gravity for Kennebec tubers was 1.065. Flat tubers have been noted with this variety at harvest.
La Chipper (15). La Chipper is the standard white-skinned fresh market potato grown in Florida. Average total and marketable yield were 337 and 301 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a moderately smooth to smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is white. Tuber shape is round to oblong to mostly round with an eye depth of intermediate. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is spreading with a good canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as yellow and dying to completely dead. Hollow heart, corky ringspot viral disease, and internal browning have been observed in 0.10, 0.40, and 0.10% of tubers tested, respectively. Average specific gravity for La Chipper tubers was 1.068.
Sebago (9). Average total and marketable yield were 347 and 294 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a slightly netted to moderately smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is white to cream. Tuber shape is mostly oblong with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is upright with a good canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as yellow and dying to completely dead. Over all tests, internal browning was observed in 5.0% of tubers tested. Average specific gravity for Sebago tubers was 1.065. Sebago is a very good eating potato with great flavor.
Shepody (2). Average total and marketable yield were 203 and 148 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a smooth to moderately smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is white. Tuber shape is oblong to mostly oblong with an eye depth of shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as poor to fair. Plant type at full flower is upright with a good canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as yellow and dying to completely dead. Heat sprouts have been noted with this variety at harvest. Corky ringspot viral disease has been observed in 0.50% of tubers tested. Average specific gravity for Shepody tubers was 1.078.
Snowden (11). Average total and marketable yield were 402 and 370 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is tan to buff with a netted texture. Tuber flesh color is white to cream. Tuber shape is round to oblong to mostly round with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is upright with a good canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as moderately mature to yellow and dying. Hollow heart was observed in 1.0% of tubers tested. Average specific gravity for Snowden tubers was 1.077.
Superior (12). Average total and marketable yield were 264 and 235 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a netted to slightly netted texture. Tuber flesh color is white. Tuber shape is mostly round with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is decumbent with a good canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as completely dead. Hollow heart and internal browning have each been observed in 0.30% of tubers tested. Average specific gravity for Superior tubers was 1.073.
Yukon Gold (5). Average total and marketable yield were 343 and 303 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with pink eyes and a slightly netted to moderately smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is light to medium yellow. Tuber shape is round to oblong with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is upright with a fair canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as completely dead. Corky ringspot viral disease and internal browning have been observed in 2.0 and 1.0% of tubers tested. Average specific gravity for Yukon Gold tubers was 1.073. Flat tubers have been noted with this variety.
AF1615-1 (3). Average total and marketable yield were 390 and 334 cwt/acre, respectively. Potato tuber skin color is buff to white with a slightly netted to moderately smooth texture. Tuber flesh color is white. Tuber shape is round to oblong with an eye depth of intermediate to shallow. Overall external tuber appearance has been noted as fair to good. Plant type at full flower is upright with a good canopy. Plant maturity at harvest has been rated as yellow and dying. In three trials, no internal tuber defects have been observed. Average specific gravity for AF1615-1 tubers was 1.064.
References
Hochmuth, G.J., C. M. Hutchinson, D. N. Maynard, W. M. Stall, T. A. Kucharek , S. E. Webb, T. G. Taylor, S. A. Smith, and E. H. Simonne. 2001. Potato Production in Florida. In: Vegetable Production Guide for Florida. Edited by: D.N. Maynard and S.M. Olson. University of Florida and Vance Publishing.
Tables
Table 1. Florida Potato Variety Classification System
Plant Characteristics
Rating Code
Early Vigor
Plant Size Full Flower
Vine Maturity
Plant Type
Vine Maturity At Harvest/Vine Kill
1
No Emergence
Very Small
Very Early
Decumbent - Poor
Dead
2
Leaves in Rosette
--
Early
Decumbent - Fair
--
3
Plants < 2"
Small
--
Decumbent - Good
Yellow and Dying
4
Plants 2" to 4"
--
Medium Early
Spreading - Poor
--
5
Plants 4" to 6"
Medium
Medium
Spreading - Fair
Moderately Mature
6
Plants 6" to 8"
--
Medium Late
Spreading - Good
--
7
Plants 8" to 10"
Large
--
Upright - Poor
Starting to Mature
8
Plants 10" to 12"
--
Late
Upright - Fair
--
9
Plants > 12"
Very Large
Very Late
Upright - Good
Green and Vigorous
Tuber Characteristics
Rating Code
Internal Flesh Color
Skin Color
Skin Color
Tuber Shape
Eye Depth
Overall Appearance
1
White
Purple
Part. Russet
Round
Very Deep
Very Poor
2
Cream
Red
Heavy Russet
Mostly Round
--
--
3
Light Yellow
Pink
Mod. Russet
Round to Oblong
Deep
Poor
4
Medium Yellow
Dark Brown
Light Russet
Mostly Oblong
--
--
5
Dark Yellow
Brown
Netted
Oblong
Intermediate
Fair
6
Pink
Tan
Slightly Netted
Oblong to Long
--
--
7
Red
Buff
Mod. Smooth
Mostly Long
Shallow
Good
8
Blue
White
Smooth
Long
--
--
9
Purple
Cream
Very Smooth
Cylindrical
Very Shallow
Excellent
Footnotes
1. This document is HS880, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: June, 2002. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. C.M. Hutchinson, assistant professor, Horticultural Sciences Department; J.M. White, associate professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, MFREC-Apopka; D.P. Weingartner, associate professor, Plant Pathology Department, Hastings-REC, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or warranty of the products named, and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others of suitable composition.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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