Verdi

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Snowden' and 'Atlantic'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Verdi' is conical with a few root tips while it is ovoid with a medium number of root tips in 'Snowden' and spherical to ovoid with a few root tips for 'Atlantic'. 'Verdi' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout while it is weak in 'Snowden'. The tip of the lightsprout in relation to the base is larger for 'Verdi' while it is small to medium in 'Snowden' and medium sized in 'Atlantic'. 'Verdi' has a lightsprout tip with an intermediate habit while it is closed in 'Snowden'. The lightsprout tip of 'Verdi' has weak to medium anthocyanin colouration and medium pubescence while the lightsprout tip of 'Snowden' has absent or very weak anthocyanin with absent or very sparse pubescence and the lightsprout tip of 'Atlantic' has weak anthocyanin and dense pubescence. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the stem of 'Verdi' is medium while there is absent or a very low extent in the reference varieties. 'Verdi' has a taller plant height than the reference varieties. The inner side of the corolla of 'Verdi' has a high extent and medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the corolla of 'Snowden' has an absent or very low extent of very weak anthocyanin.

Description:

PLANT: intermediate type foliage structure, semi-upright to spreading growth habit, medium to late maturity

STEM: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire length

LEAVES: medium size outline, intermediate openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green, low extent and weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium to large size, as broad as long width in relation to length
LEAFLET: weak waviness of margin, medium to deep veins, medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: high frequency per plant, medium size, absent to very low extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle
FLOWER BUD: low extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium to large size, absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side, anthocyanin medium in intensity with absent or low proportion of blue

TUBER: short oval to oval, cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYES: medium to deep
TUBER SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, weak to medium anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, conical, root tips few in number, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: large size in relation to base, intermediate habit, weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Verdi' is the result of the cross made in 1994 between 'Tomensa' and 'Diana' at the breeding station in Niederarnbach, Bavaria, Germany. The selection criteria included disease resistance, yield, starch content and low temperature storability.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during the 2011 growing season in Drummond, New Brunswick. Plots consisted of 60 plants grown in a single row with a row length of 18.5 meters and a row spacing of 0.9 meters.

Comparison table for 'Verdi' with reference varieties 'Snowden' and 'Atlantic'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Verdi' (left) with reference varieties 'Snowden' (centre) and 'Atlantic' (right)