DELFIN

The Delphin potato variety is an early-maturing Belarusian table variety, distinguished by uniform ripening and high yield. The plant is of medium height with semi-erect stems and dark green medium-sized leaves. Tubers are oval-round in shape, yellow in color with smooth skin and light-yellow flesh, featuring small, shallow eyes. Average tuber mass ranges from 80 to 132 grams, with 14–16 tubers forming per plant. The variety is characterized by a distinct dormancy period of tubers exceeding 90 days, requiring pre-sprouting to improve germination and accelerate harvest.

Delphin is noted for its high yield, reaching 170–256 c/ha according to state trials, and in some regions up to 295 c/ha or more. Tuber marketability is at 88–96%, and storability is 90–99%, ensuring long-term storage without quality loss. The variety is resistant to several diseases, including potato scab, mosaic virus, and golden cyst nematode. It is moderately resistant to late blight and leaf curl virus, but sensitive to excessive soil moisture, especially during early growth stages.

In terms of taste, Delphin belongs to culinary type A; tubers are poorly starched, making them ideal for salads and frozen vegetable mixes, as well as for various dishes other than mashed potatoes. Starch content varies from 11.2% to 15.3%, ensuring good texture during thermal processing. The variety prefers fertile, light loamy and clay loam soils with adequate nutrients and mineral fertilizers. Recommended planting density for commercial cultivation is 45–48 thousand plants per hectare, using a spaced scheme of 70x32–35 cm. Despite some difficulties during harvesting due to long stolons and tendency for tubers to form irregular shapes, Delphin is valued for its stable yield, excellent storability, and high tuber quality.