Lehigh

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: 'Lehigh' has a shorter plant with a less upright growth habit than 'Yukon Gold'. The anthocyanin intensity of the main stem is weaker than the reference variety. The nodes of the stem of 'Lehigh' have less swelling than 'Yukon Gold'. The leaf silhouette of 'Lehigh' is closed to intermediate whereas it is intermediate to open in 'Yukon Gold'. 'Lehigh' has a terminal leaflet shape of broadly ovate with a cordate base whereas it is lanceolate with an acute base for 'Yukon Gold'. Lateral leaflets of 'Lehigh' are medium ovate and large in size whereas they are elliptical and medium in size in 'Yukon Gold'. 'Lehigh' has a low number of white flowers whereas there are numerous red-violet flowers in 'Yukon Gold'. The anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle in 'Lehigh' is weaker than the reference variety. The color of base of eye of 'Lehigh' is yellow whereas it is red in 'Yukon Gold'. 'Lehigh' has a rough skin texture whereas it is smooth in 'Yukon Gold'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, intermediate type foliage structure, mid-season maturity

STEM: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, medium thickness of main stem, low swelling at nodes

LEAVES: medium green, closed to intermediate silhouette, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration in rachis and petiole, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: broadly ovate, acuminate tip, cordate base, medium depth veins, weak to medium waviness, weak glossiness, no pubescence
LATERAL LEAFLET: large size, medium ovate, acuminate tip, cordate base, medium depth veins, weak to medium waviness, weak glossiness, no pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: low flowering profusion, medium size, moderate to long flower bud persistence
COROLLA: white, no anthocyanin colouration on inner surface, medium size, moderately prominent star, absent or very weak anthocyanin in peduncle

TUBER: round, medium yellow flesh with no secondary colour
TUBER EYES: shallow to intermediate depth, evenly distributed, medium prominence of eyebrows
TUBER SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, rough texture
LIGHT SPROUT: ovoid shape, few root tips
BASE: strong anthocyanin colouration, high blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: The potato clone 'Lehigh', initially evaluated as 'T2-2' and then 'NY126', resulted from a cross made in early 1994 between the yellow-fleshed clone 'Keuka Gold' (female parent) and the widely-grown chipping clone 'Pike' (male parent) at Cornell University. Seed from this cross was first sown in 1995 and transplanted on Mount Pleasant, near Ithaca, New York. Traits that were used for selection were intensity of yellow flesh color, ability to chip directly from cold storage, freedom from internal and external physical defects, resistance to scab, resistance to the golden nematode, specific gravity, maturity, and yield.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials occurred during the summer of 2007 in Rawdon, Quebec. Sixty plants of each variety were in trial.

Comparison table for 'Lehigh' with reference variety 'Yukon Gold'

Plant height (cm)

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

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

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