Dakota Jewel

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Norland' and 'Dakota Rose'

Summary: 'Dakota Jewel' has longer leaves than 'Norland'. 'Dakota Jewel' has a lower flowering profusion than the reference varieties. The flower buds of 'Dakota Jewel' drop readily, whereas they are moderately persistent in the reference varieties. The anthocyanin colouration of the flower buds of 'Dakota Jewel' is weak, while it is very strong in 'Dakota Rose'. The light sprouts of 'Dakota Jewel' are smaller and have less pubescence at the base than those of 'Norland'. The tip of the light sprouts of 'Dakota Jewel' has stronger anthocyanin than 'Dakota Rose', and more pubescence than 'Norland'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, leaf type foliage structure

STEM: medium anthocyanin evenly distributed, main stem medium in thickness, swelling of nodes absent or very low

LEAF: medium to dark green, closed silhouette, moderate anthocyanin in rachis and petiole
TERMINAL LEAFLET: medium ovate, acute to acuminate tip, obtuse base, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, narrowly ovate, acute to acuminate tip, obtuse to cordate base, moderately deep veins, weak waviness of margins, medium glossiness, no pubescence on blade (at apical rosette), moderate presence of secondary leaflets

INFLORESCENCE: absent to very low flowering profusion, buds drop readily, weak anthocyanin in buds
COROLLA: medium size, red-violet colour, strong anthocyanin on inner surface, prominent star
PEDUNCLE: medium anthocyanin

TUBER: round shape, eyes intermediate in depth and evenly distributed, eyebrows slightly prominent, white flesh with no secondary colour
SKIN: red, red at base of eye, medium anthocyanin when exposed to light, smooth texture

LIGHT SPROUT: medium in size, ovoid, moderate number of root tips, short lateral roots
BASE: very strong anthocyanin, medium to high proportion of blue, medium pubescence
TIP: smaller than base, closed habit, medium to strong anthocyanin, dense pubescence.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Dakota Jewel' was developed in the potato breeding program of North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. The variety originates from a cross between 'ND2223-8R' and 'ND649-4R' made in 1985. A phenotypic recurrent technique was used in the development of the variety. 'Dakota Jewel' has been evaluated in dryland and irrigated conditions in 14 years of North Dakota state-wide trials, as well as in the North Central Regional Variety Trials from 2000 to 2003. The variety has been propagated clonally since the first year of selection.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Dakota Jewel' were conducted in Drummond, New Brunswick in 2005. A block design was used with four replicates per variety. All entries were planted in single-row plots and each entry had one replicate per block. Plots consisted of rows 5.5 metres long and between row spacing of 91 cm. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the 1986 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Dakota Jewel' with reference varieties 'Norland' and 'Dakota Rose'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Dakota Jewel' (center) with reference varieties 'Dakota Rose' (left) and 'Norland' (right)