Dakota Jewel: A new, bright red skinned, fresh market cultivar

The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station announces the release of Dakota Jewel, a new potato variety. Dakota Jewel is a bright red skinned cultivar suitable for the fresh market. It has improved storage characteristics relative to other red cultivars because it sizes early, sets skin in the field, retains its bright red color in storage and has long dormancy.

Developed by the NDSU potato breeding program, Dakota Jewel was evaluated as ND3196-1R. It has Bison, Chieftain, Norchief and Red LaSoda in its parentage, according to Susie Thompson, leader of the NDSU potato breeding program. “Dakota Jewel has performed well under both dryland and irrigated conditions in 14 years of North Dakota statewide trials, as well as in the North Central Regional Potato Variety Trials from 2000 to 2003,” Thompson says.

Dakota Jewel is a medium to late maturing cultivar with early tuber maturity. Vines are vigorous, with a semi-erect growth habit and have red-purple flowers. Tubers are round to oblong, with bright red skin and smooth texture. The eyes are shallow and predominately apical in distribution. Tuber flesh is white.

Dakota Jewel yield potential is medium, with total yield, US No. 1’s and percent US No. 1’s equal to those of Red Norland. Size distribution is similar. Total yield for Dakota Jewel in statewide evaluations (irrigated and dryland combined) was 253 hundredweight per acre, compared to 257 for Red Norland and 362 for Red Pontiac. The average US No. 1 yield and percent for Dakota Jewel in North Dakota evaluations, across locations and years, was 192 hundredweight per acre (76%), compared to 193 (75%) for Red Norland.

During evaluation, Dakota Jewel exhibited a moderate level of resistance to silver scurf. “Like nearly all North American potato cultivars, Dakota Jewel is considered susceptible to the newer genotypes of Phytophthoras,” Thompson says. “Bacterial ring rot screening was conducted under the direction of Neil Gudmestad, NDSU plant pathologist, from 1997 through 1999. Foliar symptom expression of bacterial ring rot is typical, including leaf necrosis, leaf roll, wilt and interveinal chlorosis which was observed 80-90 days after planting in the Red River Valley. Tuber symptom expression includes external periderm cracking.”

Dakota Jewel is expected to replace acreage of Dakota Rose, Red Norland and Red Pontiac in North Dakota. With yields similar to Red Norland, the comparative advantages of Dakota Jewel include the bright red skin color, improved storability, good skin set, retention of red skin color in storage and strong dormancy.

Seed of Dakota Jewel is available from certified seed producers in North Dakota, as mini-tubers from the North Dakota State Seed Department and private laboratories. The NDSU Research Foundation is seeking Plant Variety Protection with Title V for Dakota Jewel.

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Sources: Al Schneiter, (701) 231-8137, albert.schneiter@ndsu.nodak.edu
Susie Thompson, (701) 231-8160, asunta.thompson@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu