Primevère

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Atlantic', 'Kennebec' and 'Niska'

Summary: Plant maturity is very early to early for 'Primevère' while it is mid-season for 'Atlantic' and 'Niska' and late for 'Kennebec'. 'Primevère' has weaker anthocyanin colouration of the stem, petiole and peduncle than 'Atlantic' and 'Niska'. 'Primevère' has thinner stems than 'Niska' and less swelling of the stem nodes than all reference varieties. 'Primevère' has a moderate to large number of inflorescences per plant while 'Kennebec' has none. The inner side of the corolla is violet blue for 'Primevère' while it is violet for 'Atlantic' and white for 'Niska'. The tuber skin of 'Primevère' is light beige and rough while for 'Atlantic', it is white and netted. The tubers of 'Primevère' are cylindrical while those of 'Atlantic' are elliptical, those of 'Kennebec' are oval and those of 'Niska' are round. 'Primevère' has conical light sprouts while those of 'Atlantic' are ovoid. The base of the light sprout of 'Primevère' is more pubescent than that of 'Kennebec' and 'Niska'.

Description:

PLANT: upright to semi-upright growth habit, intermediate between stem and leaf type foliage structure, very early to early maturity
STEM: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, thin to medium thick, low to moderate degree of swelling at nodes

LEAF: medium green on upper side, intermediate between closed and open silhouette, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on upper side, absent or very weak anthocyanin on petiole, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, pubescence present on terminal and lateral leaflets of apical rosette
TERMINAL LEAFLET: broad ovate, acuminate tip, cordate base, absent or very weak frequency of coalescence with lateral leaflets, medium deep veins on upper side, weak undulation of margin, medium glossiness
LATERAL LEAFLET: very small to small, medium ovate, cuspidate tip, lobed base, medium deep veins on upper side, weak undulation of margin, medium glossiness

INFLORESCENCE: moderate to high number per plant, small to medium size
FLOWER BUD: moderately persistent, medium to strong anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: violet blue on inner side, weak anthocyanin colouration on inner side, moderately to largely prominent star
PEDUNCLE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

TUBER SKIN: light beige, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration when exposed to light, rough and flakey texture
TUBER: cylindrical
TUBER EYE: white base, shallow, evenly distributed, prominence of eyebrows is absent to slightly prominent
TUBER FLESH: cream coloured with no secondary colour

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, conical, few root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHT SPROUT BASE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse to moderate pubescence
LIGHT SPROUT TIP: slightly smaller than base, closed habit, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, very sparse pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Primevère' (experimental designation QP91089.14F2TL) originated from a cross made in 1991 between 'F85001' and 'W231'. This cross took place at the Centre de recherche Les Buissons Inc. in Pointe-aux-Outardes, Québec. 'Primevère' was selected by the breeder, Dr. Pierre Turcotte, from the F2 population and evaluated in replicated trials conducted at the Centre de recherche Les Buissons Inc. and in provincial potato trials from 2001 to 2005. 'Primevère' was selected primarily as an early producing table potato variety.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Primevère' were conducted during the summer of 2006 at the Centre de Recherche Les Buissons Inc. in Pointe-aux-Outardes, Québec. The trial included 400 tubers per variety which were spaced 25 cm within rows. There was one row per variety. The rows were approximately 100 metres long and spaced 1 metre apart. Measured characteristics were based on measurements taken from 25 plants or part of plants. All colour determinations were made using the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison table for 'Primevère' with reference varieties 'Atlantic', 'Kennebec' and 'Niska'

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Primevère' (centre bottom) with reference varieties 'Atlantic' (left) 'Kennebec' (centre top) and 'Niska' (right)