Villetta Rose

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Dark Red Norland'

Summary: 'Villetta Rose' has a narrower leaf width and more open leaf silhouette than 'Dark Red Norland'. 'Villetta Rose' has a higher frequency of coalescence between the terminal and lateral leaflets than 'Dark Red Norland'. 'Villetta Rose' has a smaller light sprout than 'Dark Red Norland'. 'Villetta Rose' has a spherical shaped light sprout while 'Dark Red Norland' has an ovoid light sprout.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright to spreading growth habit, intermediate type foliage structure
STEM: weak to medium anthocyanin colouration evenly distributed along the stem, medium to thick, nodes with low swelling

LEAVES: dark green, open silhouette, medium anthocyanin colouration on upper side of rachis and weak anthocyanin on petiole, deep veins, medium waviness of margin, medium glossiness on upper side, no pubescence on leaves at apical rosette, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: elliptical, acute tip, cuneate base, weak to medium frequency of coalescence with lateral leaflets
LATERAL LEAFLETS: small, narrow ovate shape, acute tip, obtuse to cordate base

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

TUBER: round
TUBER SKIN: red, red at base of eye, smooth texture
TUBER EYES: medium in depth, evenly distributed, eyebrows slightly prominent
TUBER FLESH: white, no secondary colour

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'Villetta Rose' originated from a cross between 'Dark Red Norland' and 'Nordonna', made at Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station, Madison, Wisconsin, USA in 1994. 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, red skin colour and white flesh.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Villetta Rose' 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 'Villetta Rose' with reference variety 'Dark Red Norland'

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Villetta Rose' (right) with reference variety 'Dark Red Norland' (left)