Emma

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The plants of 'Emma' are shorter than the plants of 'Yukon Gold'. The corolla of 'Emma' has absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on the inner side while the corolla of 'Yukon Gold' has weak to medium anthocyanin. The light sprout of 'Emma' is ovoid in shape while the light sprout of 'Yukon Gold' is spherical in shape. The light sprout base of 'Emma' has very strong anthocyanin colouration with a high proportion of blue while the light sprout base of 'Yukon Gold' has medium anthocyanin with an absent or low proportion of blue. The light sprout tip of 'Emma' has strong anthocyanin colouration while the light sprout tip of 'Yukon Gold' has weak anthocyanin.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, foliage structure intermediate between stem and leaf type , late maturity

STEM: low to medium extent of anthocyanin colouration located halfway up stem

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

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

TUBER: round, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYES: shallow
TUBER SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, medium anthocyanin colouration of skin in reaction to light

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

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Emma' originated from a cross between 'Colleen' and 'Estima', made at Carlow, Ireland in 1989. The selection process occurred over 12 years with one selection made per year. The trials took place in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom and Valencia, Spain. Selection criteria included earliness, skin finish quality, disease resistance, yield and taste.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Emma' 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. Measured characteristics were based on ten measurements.

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

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

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