Challenger

Challenger potato is a late-maturing variety developed by the Dutch breeding company HZPC. The vegetation period of this variety ranges from 115 to 140 days, during which marketable tubers can be harvested as early as day 90-100. The plants of Challenger are strong with semi-erect stems and light-purple flowers with dark-lilac veins. The tubers have an oval-elongated shape, yellow skin, and light-yellow flesh, which is slightly mealy and suitable for making soups, frying, French fries, and mashed potatoes. The average weight of one tuber is about 86-116 grams, and the starch content varies within 14-16.2%, ensuring high culinary processing quality.

The Challenger variety is characterized by high yield, which can reach 250-350 centners per hectare, and in some conditions — up to 43 tons per hectare. Each plant forms 6 to 10 large tubers. The potato has a well-developed root system and high storability — about 96% — which allows for long-term storage without loss of quality. Additionally, the variety is resistant to mechanical damage, facilitating transportation and storage.

Regarding disease resistance, Challenger shows high resistance to potato cyst nematode, late blight, and dry rot, as well as moderate resistance to foliar and tuber late blight. However, the variety is susceptible to golden potato nematode and sensitive to the herbicide metribuzin (Zenkor). The Challenger potato is suitable for cultivation in various regions, including those with high frost resistance, and can be used as seed material with tuber sizes of 30-50 mm.