Red LaSoda Deep Red Mutant of LaSoda

Parentage – Triumph x Katahdin^1,2

Breeder – LaSoda was developed by the Louisiana potato breeding program in 1948^1,2; deep red mutant (Red LaSoda) was observed by Charles S. Blackman in Clark, South Dakota in 1949^2,3,4 and released for production by the USDA and the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station in 1953^1,4

Maturity – Mid-season^2,3

Usage – Primarily grown for fresh market¹; good for boiling, baking and frying²

Plant – Medium size with spreading foliage; green stems with light pubescence^1,3; stems prominently angled with prominent and slightly waved wings^2,3

Leaves – Dark green, close, long, broad; green midribs and petioles with slight pubescent; three to four pairs of medium size, ovate primary leaflets along with numerous secondary and tertiary leaflets^2,3

Flowers – Large, lavender flowers with orange-yellow anthers; very little pollen is produced^1,3,4; scantly pubescent green buds²

Tubers – Round to oblong with a slightly flattened shape; medium deep eyes with prominent eyebrows; smooth dark red skin that fades with time⁴; white flesh; low specific gravity; long dormancy^1,2,3

Strengths – Potential for high yields of attractive bright red tubers that size early¹; resistant to tip burn, heat and drought damage; moderately resistant to early blight^2,3

Weaknesses – Variable eye depth and off-shape tubers; tubers skin easily when handled¹; susceptible to black leg, common scab, Fusarium dry rot, late blight, potato leafroll virus, Verticillium wilt, corky ring spot, bacterial wilt and potato virus X and Y^1,2,3

References: ¹http://www.potatoassociation.org/industry/varieties/red-rounds-potato-varieties/red-la-soda-solanum-tuberosum ²http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/potatoes/potato-varieties/red-la-soda/eng/1312587385859/1312587385860 ³Webb, R. E. and Miller, J. C. 1954. Red la soda-A mutation of la soda. American Journal of Potato Research 31:40-43. ⁴Wonning, P. R. 2015. Gardener’s Guide to Growing Potatoes in the Vegetable Garden: Growing a potato Garden for Beginners or Veterans p. 55. ⁵www.potatovirus.com

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Last Revised: 4/30/19

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This article was posted in Fact Sheet.