MegaChip

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Snowden'

Summary: 'MegaChip' has medium anthocyanin colouration in the stem while 'Snowden' has no anthocyanin. 'MegaChip' has red-violet corolla colour while 'Snowden' has white corolla colour. 'MegaChip' has a large light sprout which is ovoid in shape while 'Snowden' has a medium sized light sprout which is spherical in shape. 'MegaChip' has stronger anthocyanin in the light sprout base with a higher proportion of blue than 'Snowden'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, intermediate type foliage structure
STEM: medium anthocyanin colouration evenly distributed in the bottom half, medium thickness, nodes with 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, sparse pubescence on leaves at apical rosette, medium presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: medium to broad ovate shape, acute to acuminate tip, cordate to obtuse base, absent or very low frequency of coalescence with lateral leaflets
LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium to large, narrow ovate shape, acute tip, cordate base

INFLORESCENCE: high flowering profusion, large size, flower buds persistent, weak anthocyanin colouration in flower bud.
COROLLA: red violet, weak to medium anthocyanin colouration on inner side, large, weakly prominent star, weak anthocyanin colouration on peduncle

TUBER: round
TUBER SKIN: light beige, yellow at base of eye, very strong anthocyanin colouration on skin in reaction to light, rough texture
TUBER EYES: intermediate depth, evenly distributed, eyebrows slightly prominent
TUBER FLESH: white, no secondary colour

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'MegaChip' originated from a cross between 'Wischip' and FYF85, made at Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station, Madison, Wisconsin, USA in 1985. A conventional breeding scheme based on individual clonal selection in generation F1 was used. The main selection criteria used in selection of this variety were round tuber shape, white flesh, specific gravity and resistance to scab.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'MegaChip' 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 table for 'MegaChip' with reference variety 'Snowden'

Colour of corolla (RHS)

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Potato: 'MegaChip' (right) with reference variety 'Snowden' (left)