Mazama

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Norland' and 'Red LaSoda'

Summary: The tuber of 'Mazama' has shallow eyes while the tuber of 'Norland' has medium depth eyes and the tuber of 'Red LaSoda' has deep eyes. The light sprout of 'Mazama' has very dense pubescence at the base while the light sprout of 'Norland' has medium pubescence and the light sprout of 'Red LaSoda' has dense pubescence. The light sprout tip of 'Mazama' has weak anthocyanin colouration while the reference varieties have medium anthocyanin at the tip of the light sprout.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright to spreading growth habit, leaf type foliage structure, early maturity

STEM: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration located along entire stem

LEAVES: small to medium size, open silhouette, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, dark green, medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, narrower than long width in relation to base
LEAFLETS: weak to medium waviness of margin, medium depth veins, medium to glossy on upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: low to medium frequency of inflorescences per plant, small to medium size, medium extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle
FLOWER BUD: high extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size, strong anthocyanin colouration on inner side with absent to low proportion of blue, high extent of anthocyanin on inner side

TUBER: short oval, white flesh
TUBER EYES: shallow
TUBER SKIN: red, red at base of eye

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, few number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHT SPROUT BASE: strong anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, very dense pubescence
LIGHT SPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, habit intermediate between closed and open, weak anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Mazama' originated from a cross between ND1196-2R and 'Redsen', made at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, USA in 1989. A conventional breeding scheme based on individual clonal selection in generation F1 was used. Selection criteria included tuber colour, small tuber size, tuber uniformity, tuber smoothness, yield and overall performance.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Mazama' were conducted during the summer of 2010 in Drummond, New Brunswick. Plots consisted of one row with a row length of 18.5 meters and a row spacing of 90 cm. Plants were spaced 30 cm apart within the row. There were 60 plants per variety in the trial.

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Potato: 'Mazama' (centre) with reference varieties 'Norland' (left) and 'Red LaSoda' (right)