'La Chipper' is a mid-season potato variety developed by the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station in 1962, resulting from a cross between 'Green Mountain' and 'Cayuga'. This cultivar is primarily grown for chip processing due to its favorable characteristics.
Plant Characteristics:
- Maturity: Medium, with an average growing season of 95 days from planting to harvest under Florida conditions.
- Foliage: Medium-sized, spreading plants with light green, slightly pubescent leaves. Stems are very slightly pigmented with prominent, single, green wings.
- Flowers: Light blue to white flowers with buds that are light green; the variety produces a fair quantity and quality of pollen.
Tuber Characteristics:
- Shape: Oblong to long, somewhat flattened.
- Skin: Smooth and white with medium to deep, cream-colored eyes that are fairly evenly distributed.
- Flesh: Very white, maintaining its color and texture during processing.
Yield and Quality:
- Yield: High, with marketable yields averaging 256 cwt/acre, approximately 12% less than the commercial standard 'Atlantic'.
- Tuber Size Distribution: 83% of tubers fall between A1 and A3 size classifications.
- Specific Gravity: Moderate, suitable for chip processing.
Disease Resistance:
- Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans): Moderately resistant.
- Common Scab (Streptomyces scabies): Moderately susceptible.
- Hollow Heart: Very resistant, with a low incidence under Florida conditions.
- Ring Spot: Low incidence observed under Florida conditions