Kennebec (potato)

Kennebec is a medium- to late-maturing white potato. It was bred by the USDA and selected by Presque Isle Station, Maine in 1941. Kennebec is not under plant variety protection. This fast-growing variety has high yields. It maintains good quality in storage^[1] and is grown for both fresh market use and chipping.

Botanical characteristics

• The Kennebec plant is non-pigmented, large and erect, with thick stems that are prominently angled.
• Sprouts are grayish green with a slightly purple bottom.
• The leaves are broad, long and dark green with slightly pubescent midribs.
• Primarily the leaflets are ovate, large and grow in pairs of four. Secondary leaflets occur in a medium number. Tertiary leaflets occur very seldom, if at all. Terminally, the leaflets stay ovate and have acute tips and a lobed base.
• Very few of the large white flowers emerge from the scantly pubescent green buds.
• Tubers are medium thick with an elliptical to oblong shape. The skin is smooth and creamy with shallow eyes.

Agricultural characteristics

• Kennebec is resistant to tuber net necrosis, which Potato leafroll virus causes.
• It is moderately resistant to foliage late blight, black leg, fusarium dry rot, phoma rot, potato wart, seed-piece decay, PVS and PVX.
• It is susceptible to common scab, fusarium dry rot, tuber late blight, leaf roll, pink eye, and Rhizoctonia.
• It is highly susceptible to Verticillium wilt.

References

1. Akeley, R. V.; Stevenson, F. J.; Schultz, E. S. (1948)."Kennebec: A new potato variety resistant to late blight, mild mosaic, and net necrosis". American Potato Journal 25:351-361