Kennebec: A new potato variety resistant to late blight, mild mosaic, and net necrosis

Abstract

The Kennebec is a new variety of potato that combines high yield and good cooking quality with a high degree of resistance to late blight in both vines and tubers. In field-exposure tests it has not yet shown the symptoms of mild mosaic or net necrosis. It is late in maturing as grown in Maine, but has been considered medium-late in tests in other States. It is widely adapted. It produces smooth, well-shaped tubers with shallow eyes. Like all other varieties of potatoes, it varies in quality according to the environment in which it is grown and the cultural practices of the growers. As produced in the test plots on Aroostook Farm, Presque Isle, Maine, it has shown excellent market and cooking quality. The keeping qualities in storage appear to be excellent. Kennebec should replace Katahdin in some sections because of its higher yielding ability, its superior cooking quality, and its high degree of resistance to late blight. It should replace Sebago to a large extent because of a higher degree of resistance to late blight and because the tubers of Kennebec are more easily detached from the vines at harvest time than are those of Sebago.