Yana Qala Suytu, meaning “Long Black Naked”, gets its name from its smooth, dark skin. It is used traditionally in marriage offerings and is prized for making chuño and pachamanca. Though slow to cook, it stores well and thrives in high altitudes.
Tuber Characteristics:
- Shape: Obovate (egg-like, wider at tip)
- Skin color: Intense black
- Skin texture: Smooth (“Qala” = bare/naked)
- Flesh color: Creamy, no secondary color
- Bud color: Violet
- Number of tubers per plant: 13–20
- Yield: 0.8–1.0 kg per plant
Agronomic Traits:
- Late blight resistance: Moderately susceptible
- Frost tolerance: Moderately tolerant
- Storage: Good (over 5 months)
- Altitude range: 3,500–4,200 m.a.s.l.
- Abundance: Intermediate
- Ploidy: Tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48)