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Title: NOTICE OF RELEASE OF CHARLESTON SCARLET, A VERY SWEET, ORANGE-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO WITH HIGH RESISTANCE TO INSECTS

Author
item Bohac, Janice
item Jackson, D

Submitted to: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cultivar Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2006
Publication Date: 2/27/2006
Citation: Bohac, J., Jackson, D.M. 2006. Notice of Release of Charleston Scarlet, a Very Sweet, Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato with High Resistance to Insects. USDA, Agricultural Resesarch Service, Cultivar Release.

Interpretive Summary: There is a need for an improved sweet, orange-fleshed sweetpotato cultivar with dark red skin to replace the old pest susceptible red-skinned cultivars like Garent, Diane, Georgia Jet and Georgia Red. The red-skinned cultivars are favored by home gardeners and some commercial growers because they are well known for their high level of sweetness and quality. 'Charleston Scarlet' is a sweetpotato developed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS). It can be grown with little or no pesticides because it is resistant to most major soil insect pests and root knot nematodes. It is particularly noteworthy for its sweet moist flavor, similar to the high quality cultivar Garnet grown in California. It stores well and sprouts well in plant beds.

Technical Abstract: The sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] 'Charleston Scarlet' was developed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS). It is an attractive new cultivar that exhibits multiple resistances to root knot nematodes and insect pests like Diabrotica and Systena. 'Charleston Scarlet' makes a large number of well shaped roots with dark red skin and medium orange flesh. It is very sweet and moist with excellent baking quality similar to 'Garnet'. It will be a pest-resistant cultivar that can be grown instead of popular susceptible cultivars like Garnet, Diane, Georgia Jet and Georgia Red. This cultivar is most suitable for organic growers and home gardeners.