Alta Crown

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Russet Burbank' and 'Ranger Russet'

Summary: 'Alta Crown' has a semi-upright growth habit while 'Russet Burbank' has a spreading growth habit. 'Alta Crown' has an intermediate foliage structure while the reference varieties have a leaf type foliage structure. 'Alta Crown' has darker leaf colour than the reference varieties. The inner side of the corolla is red violet for 'Alta Crown' while it is white for 'Russet Burbank'. 'Alta Crown' has stronger anthocyanin colouration in the corolla than 'Ranger Russet'. 'Alta Crown' has a broad cylindrical light sprout shape while 'Russet Burbank' has an ovoid shape. 'Alta Crown' has stronger anthocyanin colouration on the base of the light sprout with a higher proportion of blue than the reference varieties. 'Alta Crown' has medium anthocyanin on the light sprout tip while the reference varieties have no anthocyanin. 'Alta Crown' has denser pubescence on the base and tip of the light sprout than the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, foliage structure intermediate between stem and leaf type, matures mid-season

STEM: weak anthocyanin colouration at base of branches, thick, nodes with medium degree of swelling

LEAF: dark green, intermediate silhouette, medium anthocyanin colouration on upper side of rachis and petiole, medium waviness of margin, weak presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: medium ovate, cuspidate tip, cordate base
LATERAL LEAFLET: large, medium ovate, cuspidate tip, cordate base

INFLORESCENCE: medium to high flowering profusion, medium to large
BUD: persistent, strong anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: red violet, strong anthocyanin colouration, medium to large, weak star, weak anthocyanin colouration on peduncle

TUBER: oblong
TUBER SKIN: reddish brown, white at base of eye, russetted texture
TUBER EYES: shallow in depth, evenly distributed, eyebrows not prominent
TUBER FLESH: cream, no secondary colour

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, broad cylindrical, many root tips, short lateral shoots
BASE: very strong anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin, dense pubescence
TIP: smaller than base, closed habit, medium anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Alta Crown' originated from a cross made in 1992 by Colorado State University at the San Luis Valley Research Centre. The F1 was assigned to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge as part of an agreement with Colorado State University. The female parent, identified as AC83172-1 had good french fry quality, high specific gravity and resistance to hollowheart, blackspot bruise and enzymatic browning. The male parent, identified as CO86030-1 was a high yielding clone with good french fry quality, moderate specific gravity and resistance to hollow heart and blackspot bruise. The first four years of selection were carried out at the Vauxhall Research Substation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Further evaluation was done in the Western Canadian Regional Potato Trials (1997-2000), a multi-harvest trial in 2002 and a long term storage trial in the same year.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Alta Crown' were conducted in 2006 at Vauxhall, Alberta. A randomized block design was used with three replicates per variety. Plots consisted of rows 7.6 metres long and between row spacing of 91 cm. Plants within each row were planted 30 cm apart. Measured characteristics were based on 50 measurements and all colour determinations were made using the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison table for 'Alta Crown' with reference varieties 'Russet Burbank' and 'Ranger Russet'

Flower colour (RHS)

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Potato: 'Alta Crown' (left) with reference varieties 'Russet Burbank' (centre) and 'Ranger Russet' (right)