Blazer Russet

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Russet Burbank'

Summary: 'Blazer Russet' has a strong anthocyanin colouration on the stem while it is weak for 'Russet Burbank'. 'Blazer Russet' has a smaller leaf and a smaller lateral leaflet than 'Russet Burbank'. The terminal and lateral leaflets of 'Blazer Russet' have a medium frequency of coalescence while it is absent or very low for 'Russet Burbank'. 'Blazer Russet' has narrow cylindrical light sprouts with a high proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration of the base while they are ovoid in shape with no or a low proportion of blue for 'Russet Burbank'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, leaf type foliage structure
STEM: strong anthocyanin colouration distributed on the bottom 2/3, medium thickness, nodes with low swelling

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

INFLORESCENCE: medium flowering profusion, medium size, persistence of flower buds, strong anthocyanin colouration of flower bud
COROLLA: white, large, not prominant star, medium anthocyanin colouration of peduncle

TUBER: oblong
TUBER SKIN: light beige, yellow at base of eye, weak anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light, russetted texture
TUBER EYES: shallow, even distribution, slight prominence of eyebrows
TUBER FLESH: white, no secondary colour

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, narrow cylindrical shape, medium number of root tips, medium length lateral shoots
BASE: strong anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium dense pubescence
TIP: smaller than base in size, closed habit, strong anthocyanin colouration, medium dense pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Blazer Russet' was derived from a sexual hybridization made at the University of Idaho's Aberdeen Research and Extension Center in 1988. 'Blazer Russet' originated from a cross between 'A7816-14' and 'Norking Russet'. The selection criteria included yield, maturity, appearance, specific gravity, resistance to tuber defects, storage fry colour and disease resistance.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Blazer Russet' were conducted in Drummond, New Brunswick in 2007. All entries were planted in single-row plots. Plots consisted of rows 22 metres long with 30 cm in row spacing between plants and spacing between rows of 91 cm. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the 1986 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Blazer Russet' with reference variety 'Russet Burbank'

Leaf length (including petiole)(cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Blazer Russet' (left) with reference variety 'Russet Burbank' (right)