YUKON GOLD

Yukon Gold
Variety Name: Yukon GoldRights Holder | Breeder: AGRICULTURE CANADA, ONTARIOCountry of Origin: Canada 加拿大Year of of introduction: 1980
Featuring smooth skin, pink eyes, deep yellow flesh, and rich taste, the Yukon Gold continues to experience a steady increase and popularity domestically and internationally. Potato breeders pursue the standard that Yukon Gold has set for developing improved yellow-fleshed varieties.

Botanical Features

  • Plants: medium large, upright with little tendency to spread; lower three-quarters of stems purplish with the upper quarter faintly purple.
  • Leaves: open, moderately shiny, olive green, stiffly pubescent; nodes not swollen.
  • Terminal leaflets: obovate, gradually tapered to the base; tip slightly acuminate.
  • Primary leaflets: ovate; tip acute to slightly acuminate; four pairs.
  • Secondary leaflets: broadly ovate, varying from two on the lower leaves to six or eight on the upper leaves.
  • Tertiary leaflets: small, varying from none on the lower leaves to twenty on the mid and upper leaves.
  • Flowers: light violet; star yellow-green at the base becoming light violet towards the edges; buds light green to purplish green.
  • Tubers: oval, slightly flattened; finely flaked yellowish-white skin; shallow pink eyes; light yellow flesh.
  • Sprouts: reddish-purple.

Agricultural Features

  • Medium to high yielding variety of attractive appearance. Large tubers are slightly susceptible to hollow heart. Excellent storability; long dormancy period. High specific gravity.
  • Remark: often sold under its variety name.
  • Utilization: very good for boiling, baking, and French frying; unsuitable for chipping; retains its yellow flesh color when cooked.
  • Chief Markets: fresh market and seed export potential.

Reaction to diseases

  • Highly resistant: PVA
  • Moderately resistant: leaf roll.
  • Susceptible: common scab, PVY, air pollution.
The Yukon Gold potato was developed in the 1960s by renowned world-class potato breeder, Gary Johnson, while at the University of Guelph from 1953 - 1980.

This enhanced potato is the most recognized plant variety developed through the University of Guelph’s breeding programs and is recognized for its disease resistance and growing performance in North America.

Its name reflects its distinctive color and honors Yukon River “Gold Rush” country.

The Yukon Gold was also a winner at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, in 2011, for the seventh annual Seed of the Year competition (east division).

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