Karatop is a very early, productive, and high-quality table variety suitable for early market supply of fresh potatoes. It is characterized by a significant proportion of marketable tubers. The variety is suitable for sprouting as well as for growing under plastic cover. With adequate water supply, it produces a large number of tubers, which is crucial for realizing its potential yield. Tubers grown on good soils have particularly attractive appearance. Karatop is well-suited for mechanical skin removal, with minimal losses.
The tuber shape is round-oval, size from medium to large. Skin color is yellow, flesh color is light-yellow. Yield is high. Characterized by rapid development of young plants and strong foliage. The plant is semi-erect, intermediate type. The plant produces a small number of white flowers.
Medium-height plant, stem type, semi-erect to spreading. Anthocyanin stem coloration is absent or very weak. Leaf is medium, intermediate. Flower is white, medium size.
Marketable yield in the Northwestern region is 198-436 ц/га, 44-75 ц/га higher than the standards of Zhukovsky Early and Izora. Forms tubers uniformly; after 50 days of full emergence, the yield in Kaliningrad Oblast reached 250-407 ц/га, matching or 134 ц/га higher than the standard Zhukovsky Early. Maximum yield in Kaliningrad Oblast — 494 ц/га, 160 ц/га higher than Zhukovsky Early. Marketable yield in the Volga region is 184-271 ц/га, 22 ц/га higher than the standard Pushkinets; in the Republic of Tatarstan after the second harvest — 282 ц/га, 156 ц/га higher than the standard. Maximum yield in the Republic of Tatarstan — 341 ц/га, 189 ц/га higher than Pushkinets. Tubers are oval-round, with small eyes. Skin is yellow, smooth to medium. Flesh is light-yellow. Marketable tuber mass 58-105 г. Starch content 10.6-14.4%, at the level of Zhukovsky Early standard. Taste is good. Marketability 72-93%, at the level of Zhukovsky Early and Pushkinets standards. Resistant to potato late blight and golden potato nematode. According to the breeder, resistant to leaf curling viruses 'A' and 'U', weakly susceptible to phytophthora on foliage and tubers. Value of the variety: nematode resistance, virus resistance, uniform early yield, good tuber taste.
