‘World’s largest potato’ to get DNA testing in Edinburgh lab

The oversized tattie – named Dug – was found in a garden in Hamilton, New Zealand, weighing in at 7.9kg.

‘World’s largest potato’ to get DNA testing in Edinburgh labITV

What is thought to be the world’s biggest potato is set to undergo DNA testing in Scotland.

The oversized tattie – named Dug – was found in a garden in Hamilton, New Zealand, weighing in at 7.9kg.

Colin and Donna Craig-Brown were cleaning their vegetable garden in August 2021 when they made the bizarre discovery.

Colln’s attention is now focused on getting into the record books with the biggest spud ever.

Currently, the Guinness World Record holder for the largest potato is 4.99kg for one found in Nottinghamshire.

The couple are hoping Dug can knock it off the top spot, however, Guinness World Record officials have asked for further proof that it is in fact a potato.

If real, the root vegetable is enough to make eight bags of oven chips, 173 bags of crisps, or 26 baked potatoes.

Colin told Stuff: “Do they think I genetically modified it?

“It’s been a roller-coaster of emotion.

“While it’s extremely deflating, I want to prove them wrong.

“We will do everything they ask of us, so at the end of the day, they can say yes or no.”

The team at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture based in Ratho are set to investigate the potato in question.

It has a database of more than 2000 potato varieties and for a priority case can get a result within 24 hours of receiving a sample.

However, since sending a piece of Dug off to Scotland, Colin said the potato has started to look a little worse for wear.

He said: “He was getting smaller and smaller every day. He was losing juices through his stab wounds where he was impaled by the garden fork.

“He still looks the same, he’s just got lighter.”

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