Atlantic potato facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Potato 'Atlantic'
'Atlantic' potato leaf
Genus	solanum
Species	Solanum tuberosum
Cultivar	'Atlantic'
Origin	Beltsville, USA

The Atlantic potato is a special type of potato. It's mostly grown to make potato chips. This potato is called a "mid-season" variety because it's ready to harvest in the middle of the growing season.

Scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland, created the Atlantic potato in 1978. It was made by crossing two other potato types, 'Wauseon' and 'Lenape'. This potato is very popular for making chips right after it's harvested or after being stored for a short time. Farmers can usually grow a lot of these potatoes.

What Does the Atlantic Potato Plant Look Like?

The Atlantic potato plant has some unique features:

• The plants are quite large. They have thick, straight stems with parts that are a bit swollen.
• Their leaves are a bright, medium green color. They have noticeable "wings" and large, uneven main leaflets. There are also many smaller leaflets.
• The plant produces many flowers. These flowers are white with a light purple center. They also have lots of pollen on orange parts called anthers.
• The potatoes themselves, called tubers, are oval to round. They have eyes (small indentations) that are not too deep.
• The skin of the potato is brown. It can be lightly or heavily netted, which means it has a pattern like a net.
• The inside of the potato is white. It is also very dense, which is good for making chips.

Growing and Using Atlantic Potatoes

The Atlantic potato is a favorite for farmers and chip makers:

• It produces a good amount of potatoes. It can also grow well in many different places. This makes it a great choice for making potato chips.
• This potato is very good at fighting off certain plant problems. It is highly resistant to a tiny worm called golden nematodes (race A). It also resists potato virus X and a problem called tuber net necrosis. This necrosis is caused by the potato leafroll virus.
• It can also resist pinkeye disease. It is somewhat tolerant to common scab and a plant disease called Verticillium wilt.
• However, the Atlantic potato can get sick from potato virus Y. It can also have problems like hollow heart (empty space inside) and heat necrosis (damage from too much heat).