Elgar

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Bintje'

Summary: 'Elgar' has a shorter plant height than 'Bintje'. 'Elgar' has no anthocyanin colouration in the stem while 'Bintje' has strong anthocyanin. 'Elgar' has no anthocyanin colouration in the flower bud and has red-violet corolla colour while 'Bintje' has very strong anthocyanin in the flower bud and white corolla colour. 'Elgar' has a broad cylindrical shaped light sprout while 'Bintje' has an ovoid shaped light sprout. 'Elgar' has an absent or low proportion of blue in the anthocyanin at the base of the light sprout while 'Bintje' has a high proportion of blue.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, intermediate foliage structure
STEM: no anthocyanin colouration, medium thickness, nodes with absent or very low swelling

LEAVES: medium green, intermediate silhouette, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on upper side of rachis and petiole, medium depth of veins, absent or very weak waviness of margin, medium glossiness on upper side, no pubescence on leaves at apical rosette, medium presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: medium ovate shape, acute to acuminate tip, cordate base, absent or very low frequency of coalescence with lateral leaflets
LATERAL LEAFLETS: large size, narrow ovate shape, acute to acuminate tip, cordate base

INFLORESCENCE: medium flowering profusion, medium size, flower buds persistent, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration in flower bud.
COROLLA: red-violet, medium anthocyanin colouration on inner side, medium size, moderately prominent star, weak anthocyanin colouration on peduncle

TUBER: oblong
TUBER SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, weak anthocyanin colouration on skin in reaction to light, smooth texture
TUBER EYES: medium in depth, evenly distributed, eyebrows slightly prominent
TUBER FLESH: light yellow, no secondary colour

LIGHT SPROUT: large, broad cylindrical shape, low number of root tips, short lateral shoots
BASE: medium anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin, sparse pubescence
TIP: smaller than base, closed habit, weak anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Elgar' originated from a cross between Y66-13-636 and VE71105, made at Beetgumermolen, The Netherlands in 1987. 'Elgar' was tested under the experimental designation FOB 84-60-13 and selected in 1989 at Middenmeer, The Netherlands. A phenotypic recurrent selection technique was utilized in its development.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Elgar' were conducted in Drummond, New Brunswick in 2006. All entries were planted in single-row plots. Plots consisted of rows 22 metres long with 30 cm in row spacing 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 'Elgar' with reference variety 'Bintje'

Plant height (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Elgar' (left) with reference variety 'Bintje' (right)