Red Pontiac Fact Sheet
Red Pontiac (Red) |
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Parentage – Deeper red mutant of Pontiac (Katahdin x Bliss Triumph)1,2,3
Breeder – Released by United States Department of Agricultural (USDA) and Michigan in 1938; selection was made by J.W. Weston in Florida in 19452; Dakota Chief is a synonym name for Red Pontiac2,4
Maturity – Mid to late season1,2,3
Usage – Fresh market1,2,3,4; good for boiling, baking, and chipping1,3,4
Plant – Large, slightly spreading foliage with thick, prominently angled stems; reddish-purple nodes with prominent, double wings1,2
Leaves – Medium to large, moderately open, broadly ovate; terminal leaflets have blunt tips and partially squared-off bases; four pairs of primary leaflets with a reddish-purple midrib at the attachment point; numerous secondary leaflets1
Flowers – Large, light purple pink with white tips1,2; yellow anthers1
Tubers – Oblong to round with smooth to netted dark red skin and medium deep eyes; white flesh1,2,3,4; low specific gravity2; medium tuber dormancy1,2
Strengths – High yield potential across various environment with an attractive appearance; moderately resistant to drought1,2, black leg and tuber net necrosis1
Weaknesses – Bruises easily1,2 and may show knobbiness and second growth if soil moisture is not uniform during the growing season2; susceptible to air cracking at harvest, common scab, Fusarium dry rot, late blight, Verticillium wilt1, potato leafroll virus and potato virus A, X and Y1,3
Photos 1, 2, 5
References: 1http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/potatoes/potatovarieties/red–pontiac/eng/1312587385861/1312587385862 2https://www.potatoassociation.org/?s=red+pontiac 3ALANTIC PROVINCES AGRICULTURAL SERVICES COORDINATING COMMITTEE, 2001, Potato Crop – Variety, Weed and Pest Control Guide, AGDEX 257, Canada, Internet version (PDF format), P. 13. 4Wonning, P. R. 2015. Gardener’s Guide to Growing Potato in the Vegetable Garden: Growing a Potato Garden for Beginners or Veterans. P. 56. ⁵Justin Bula – Northern Sand Farms
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Last Revised: 8/24/22
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This article was posted in Fact Sheet.