Atlantic potato explained

The Atlantic potato is a mid-season potato variety for potato chip manufacturing. It was developed and released by USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists at Beltsville, Maryland, in 1978.^[1] The variety is not under plant variety protection.^[2] It is a progeny of a cross between 'Wauseon' and 'Lenape'. It is widely grown for chipping directly off the field or with short-term storage. Marketable yields are fairly high.

Botanical features

• Plants are moderately large and have thick, upright stems with slightly swollen nodes.
• Leaves are bright medium green and have prominent wings. The primary leaflets are large and asymmetrical with numerous secondary and tertiary leaflets.
• Flowers are abundant and are white with a light violet corolla. Pollen is also abundant and is produced on orange anthers.
• Tubers (potatoes) are oval to round with moderate to shallow eyes.
• Tuber skin is brown and light to heavily netted.
• Flesh is white and has a high specific gravity.

Agricultural features

• It has moderate to high yields and is widely adapted, and used for potato chips.
• It is highly resistant to race A of golden nematodes, potato virus X, and tuber net necrosis, which is caused by potato leafroll virus.
• It is resistant to pinkeye and tolerant to common scab and Verticillium wilt.
• It is susceptible to potato virus Y. Hollow heart and heat necrosis can also be a serious problem.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Atlantic (Solanum tuberosum) . www.potatoassociation.org . Potato Association of America . 18 March 2019.
2. Webb, R.E.; Wilson, D.R.; Shumaker, J.R.; Graves, B.; Henninger, M.R.; Watts, J.; Frank, J.A.; Murphy, H.J. (1978) "Atlantic: a new potato variety with high solids, good processing quality, and resistance to pests." "American Potato Journal" 55: 141-145