Yukon Gem

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The plants of 'Yukon Gem' are shorter than those of 'Yukon Gold'. The leaf silhouette of 'Yukon Gem' is intermediate whereas it is open in 'Yukon Gold'. The skin of most of the tubers of 'Yukon Gem' has a red splash whereas there is no splash on the tuber skin of 'Yukon Gold'. The light sprout of 'Yukon Gem' is ovoid in shape with strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the tip whereas the light sprout of 'Yukon Gold' is spherical in shape with weak anthocyanin colouration at the tip.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, stem to intermediate type foliage structure

STEM: weak to medium anthocyanin colouration, thin to medium thickness of main stem, low swelling at nodes

LEAVES: light to medium green, intermediate silhouette, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on upper side of rachis and petiole, low frequency of coalescence, deep veins, absent or very weak waviness of margin, medium to strong glossiness of upper side, weak pubescence, medium presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: narrowly ovate, acuminate tip, acute base
LATERAL LEAFLET: medium size, narrowly ovate, acute tip, cordate base

INFLORESCENCE: medium flowering profusion, small
FLOWER BUD: medium persistence, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: red-violet, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium size, weak to medium prominence of star
PEDUNCLE: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval, medium yellow flesh with no secondary colour
TUBER EYES: shallow, predominantly apical distribution, slight prominence of eyebrows
TUBER SKIN: yellow with a red splash, red at base of eye, strong anthocyanin colouration of skin in reaction to light, smooth texture

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, medium number of root tips, medium length lateral shoots
LIGHT SPROUT BASE: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence
LIGHT SPROUT TIP: smaller in size than base, closed habit, strong anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Yukon Gem' originated from a cross between 'Brodick' and 'Yukon Gold', made in 1994 at North Dakota State University and further selected by the United States Department of Agriculture/Agriculture Research Services, University of Idaho Potato Breeding Program. Initial selection of the variety from an F1 population took place in 1995 and was subsequently evaluated for eleven years. In 2002-2004, 'Yukon Gem' was evaluated in the Western Regional Potato Red/Specialty Variety Development Trial. The main selection criteria included yield, maturity, tuber appearance and uniformity, culinary quality, resistance to tuber defects, storage fry colour and resistance to field diseases including potato virus Y, late blight and common scab.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Yukon Gem' were conducted in Central Blissville, New Brunswick in 2008. All entries were planted in single-row plots. Plots consisted of rows 22 metres long spaced 91 cm apart with 30 cm in row spacing between plants. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the 1986 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Yukon Gem' with reference variety 'Yukon Gold'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Yukon Gem' (left) with reference variety, 'Yukon Gold' (right)