Baby Boomer

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Bintje' and 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: 'Baby Boomer' produces semi-erect plants whereas both reference varieties have an erect growth habit. 'Baby Boomer' has smaller leaves than the references. There is no anthocyanin colouration in the flower bud of 'Baby Boomer', compared with both 'Bintje' and 'Yukon Gold' which have medium intensity of anthocyanin in the flower buds. The skin colour of the tubers of 'Baby Boomer' are buff, while the skin of 'Bintje' is light yellow and 'Yukon Gold' has medium yellow tubers. There are also differences in pubescence at the base of the light sprout. For 'Baby Boomer' pubescence is weak and for the reference varieties it is strong. The light sprout tip is open for 'Baby Boomer' and closed for both reference varieties.

Description:

'Baby Boomer' has a semi-erect growth habit and produces an intermediate type plant which is medium in height. The stem is thin and has no anthocyanin colouration. The stem wings are prominent and straight single type. The stem nodes have slight swelling and have no anthocyanin colouration. 'Baby Boomer' produces many branches.

'Baby Boomer' has medium green leaves with pubescence on the lower surface. The leaf silhouette is medium. The leaf rachis has no anthocyanin colouration. There is pubescence on the top and bottom of the leaf rachis. The petiole has no anthocyanin and the stipules are medium in size. The terminal leaflet is narrowly ovate in shape with an acuminate shaped tip and truncate base which is asymmetrical. The margin has weak waviness. On average, there are five pairs of primary leaflets which are small in size. The primary leaflets are narrowly ovate in shape with an acuminate shaped tip and symmetrical, truncate base. There are ten to fourteen secondary and tertiary leaflets.

'Baby Boomer' has a moderate flowering profusion and produces a medium number of florets per inflorescence. The flower bud has no anthocyanin colouration and the buds are persistent. The flowers are blue-violet with medium anthocyanin colouration on the inner side. Anthocyanin is present on the outer side of the corolla. The corolla is medium in size with a very prominent star. The calyx and peduncle have no anthocyanin. The anthers are orange and arranged in a broad cone shape. The stigma is capitate in shape and medium green in colour.

The tuber has buff coloured skin with no secondary colour. The skin texture is rough and the tuber shape is oval. The tuber eyes are medium in depth, intermediate in number and are evenly distributed. The tuber eyebrows are not prominent. The flesh is medium yellow with no secondary colour. There are a medium number of tubers per plant.

The light sprout is spherical in shape. The base has weak pubescence and strong, blue-violet anthocyanin colouration. The tip habit is open. The tip has strong pubescence and is blue-violet, with strong anthocyanin colouration. There are a medium number of light sprout root initials and the protrusion of lenticels is moderate. The lateral shoots are long.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Baby Boomer' originated from the cross 'AH86-102' x 'Berlikummer Geeltje x Eigenheimer' made in 1992 in Kloetinge, The Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Baby Boomer' were conducted at Vauxhall, Alberta in 2003. The trials consisted of 30 metre rows of each variety. The plants within each row were planted 30cm apart, and the spacing between the rows was 90cm. Measured characteristics were based on 50 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Baby Boomer' with reference varieties 'Bintje' and 'Yukon Gold'

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Tuber length (mm)

Tuber width (mm)

Tuber thickness (mm)