Princess

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: 'Princess' has shorter leaves, a higher flowering profusion and more persistent flower buds than'Yukon Gold'. The inner surface of the corolla is white for 'Princess' whereas it is red-violet for 'Yukon Gold'. The base of the light sprout of 'Princess' has a higher proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration and less pubescence than 'Yukon Gold'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, leaf type foliage structure

STEM: medium anthocyanin evenly distributed, main stem medium in thickness, swelling of nodes low to moderate

LEAF: light to medium green, intermediate in silhouette, weak anthocyanin in rachis and strong in petiole
TERMINAL LEAFLET: medium ovate, acute to acuminate tip, cordate base, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium to large, narrowly ovate, acute tip, cordate base, shallow to moderately deep veins, weak waviness of margins, medium glossiness, no pubescence on blade (at apical rosette), moderate presence of secondary leaflets

INFLORESCENCE: medium in size, high flowering profusion, persistent buds, absent to very weak anthocyanin in buds
COROLLA: medium size, white, slightly prominent star
PEDUNCLE: anthocyanin absent to very weak

TUBER: oval, eyes intermediate in depth and evenly distributed, eyebrows slightly prominent, medium yellow to dark yellow flesh with no secondary colour
SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, medium anthocyanin when exposed to light, smooth texture

LIGHT SPROUT: small, spherical, few root tips, short lateral roots
BASE: medium to strong anthocyanin, moderate proportion of blue, sparse pubescence
TIP: equal in size to base, intermediate habit, anthocyanin absent to very weak, medium pubescence.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Princess' was developed in the potato breeding program of SAKA-RAGIS Pflanzenzucht GbR at the breeding station of Windeby, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The variety originated from a cross between 'Dunja' and 'Arnika', made in 1988. 'Dunja' originated from a cross between 'B 51' and a seedling of 'Anett'. 'Arnika' originated from a cross between 'Granola' and 'MP 71.241/50'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Princess' were conducted in Drummond, New Brunswick in 2005. A block design was used with four replicates per variety. All entries were planted in single-row plots and each entry had one replicate per block. Plots consisted of rows 5.5 metres long and between row spacing of 91 cm. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the 1986 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Princess' with reference variety 'Yukon Gold'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Princess' (left) with reference variety 'Yukon Gold' (right)