AF 875-15

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Superior', 'Andover', 'Envol' and 'AC Belmont'

Summary: 'AF 875-15' has a more upright plant growth habit than 'AC Belmont' and shorter plants than both 'Superior' and 'AC Belmont'. The plants of 'AF 875-15' mature later than those of 'Envol'. 'AF 875-15' has narrower leaves than 'Andover' and 'Envol'. The leaves of 'AF 875-15' are lighter green than those of the reference varieties. 'AF 875-15' produces fewer inflorescences per plant than 'Superior', 'Andover' and 'AC Belmont'. The flower buds produced by 'AF 875-15' persist longer than those of 'Superior' and 'Envol'. Flower colour for 'AF 875-15' is white while it is violet and white for 'Superior'. The tubers of 'AF 875-15' are round with shallow tuber eyes while for 'Superior', they are oval with moderately deep tuber eyes. 'AF 875-15' produces larger tuber light sprouts than the reference varieties. The light sprout of 'AF 875-15' is ovoid with sparse pubescence while 'Superior' has a broad cylindrical light sprout with sparse pubescence, 'Andover' has a spherical light sprout with absent to very sparse pubescence, 'Envol' has a spherical light sprout with sparse pubescence and 'AC Belmont' has a conical light sprout with moderate pubescence. The tip of the light sprout for 'AF 878-15' is closed while it is intermediate to open for 'Envol'.

Description:

'AF 875-15' is a late season, chipping potato variety. It has an upright to semi-upright plant growth habit and a foliage structure which is intermediate between stem and leaf types. Time of maturity (when 80% of the leaves are dead) is mid-season. The stems are very thin and have very weak anthocyanin on the stem wings. The degree of swelling at the nodes on the stem is moderate.

'AF 875-15' has dull, light green leaves and a leaf silhouette that is intermediate between open and closed. Intensity of anthocyanin colouration is absent to very weak on the upper side of the leaf rachis and the petiole. The shape of the terminal leaflet is medium ovate with an acuminate apex and cordate base. The frequency of coalescence of the terminal and lateral leaflets is absent to very weak. The medium sized lateral leaflets are medium ovate in shape with an acuminate apex and obtuse base. The veins in the terminal and lateral leaflets are shallow. The margins of the terminal and lateral leaflets have weak to moderate waviness. The leaves at the apical rosette are pubescent. There is a moderate presence of secondary leaflets.

'AF 875-15' produces few, small to medium sized inflorescences per plant. The flower buds are somewhat persistent and have absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration. The flowers are white with no anthocyanin colouration on the inner surface of the corolla. The corolla is medium to large with a star that is mostly indistinct. Intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle is absent to very weak.

'AF 875-15' yields a large number of tubers. The colour of the tubers and the base of the tuber eyes is light beige. Development of anthocyanin colouration on the tuber in the presence of light is absent to very weak. The skin texture is netted and the tuber shape is round. The tuber eyes are shallow and evenly distributed. The tuber eyebrows are moderately prominent. The flesh of the tubers is white with no secondary colour.

The light sprout is medium in size and ovoid in shape. The base of the light sprout has sparse pubescence and moderate to strong anthocyanin which contains a moderate proportion of blue colour. The light sprout tip is equal in size to the base. The habit of the light sprout tip is closed. The light sprout tip has moderate pubescence and weak to moderate anthocyanin colouration. The light sprout has a moderate number of root initials and lateral shoots which are medium to long.

'AF 875-15' has good resistance to hollow heart of potato.

Origin & Breeding History: 'AF 875-15' originated from a cross between the male parent, breeding clone 'AF 84-4' and the female parent, breeding clone 'AF 186-2'. The cross took place in the spring of 1980 at the Aroostook Research Farm (University of Maine Experimental Station) in Presque Isle, Maine, U.S.A. The resulting seeds were planted and grown at the same experimental station in 1982. Subsequent selecting, testing and seed increasing resulted in the final selection of 'AF 875-15' based on its specific gravity, yield and suitability of flesh colour for the chipping industry.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'AF 875-15' was conducted in Pont-Rouge, Québec during the summer of 2004. The trial consisted of two plots in random block design containing one row of each of the candidate and reference varieties. Each row was 6 meter long and spaced 0.91 meter apart. The plants within each row were 25 cm apart. The planting was done by hand in early May and evaluation of the agronomic characteristics began in early July.

Comparison tables for 'AF 875-15' with reference varieties 'Superior', 'Andover', 'Envol' and 'AC Belmont'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length (including petiole) (cm)

Leaf width (cm)