Starburst

Potato

Variety Description

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

Summary: 'Starburst' matures earlier than the reference varieties. The plants of 'Starburst' are taller than the reference varieties. 'Starburst' has a spreading growth habit while it is semi-upright in 'Atlantic' and 'Snowden'. The stem of 'Starburst' has weak anthocyanin colouration while it is absent or very weak in 'Snowden'. The corolla of 'Starburst' and 'Atlantic' is red-violet while it is white in 'Snowden'. The skin texture of 'Starburst' is smooth while it is netted in the reference varieties. 'Starburst' has a spherical light sprout shape while it is ovoid in 'Atlantic'. 'Starburst' has high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration at the light sprout base while it is absent or low in 'Atlantic'. 'Starburst' has sparse pubescence at the base of the light sprout while it is dense in 'Atlantic'. The anthocyanin colouration at the base of the light sprout of 'Starburst' is strong while it is medium in 'Atlantic' and absent or very weak in 'Snowden'. 'Starburst' has many root tips on the light sprout while there are medium number in 'Atlantic'.

Description:

PLANT: spreading growth habit, intermediate type foliage structure, early maturity

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

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

INFLORESCENCE: medium to high flowering profusion, medium to large size
COROLLA: red-violet on inner surface, medium anthocyanin colouration on inner surface, large size, medium prominence of star
PEDUNCLE: weak anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval, white flesh with no secondary colour
TUBER EYES: shallow depth, evenly distributed, eyebrows not prominent
TUBER SKIN: light beige, white at base of eye, smooth texture

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, spherical shape, many number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHT SPROUT BASE: strong anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
LIGHT SPROUT TIP: smaller in size than base, intermediate habit, strong anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Starburst' (experimental designation V0379-2) originated from the cross of 'Conestoga' and 'ND860-2' made in 1987 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre. The true potato seed was sown in the greenhouse in 1988 and resulting seedlings tubers were planted at the Vauxhall Research Station in 1989 for selection. The V0379-2 clone was selected in 1989, and progressed through 4-hill, 10-hill, and 50-hill generations stages of selection and evaluated at Vauxhall. This was followed by evaluation in the Western Canadian Regional Potato Trials in 1993-1997 and in 2002-2003. Commercial evaluation started in 2003 by the Western Potato Consortium-A.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted at the Vauxhall Research Substation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, Alberta in 2008 and 2009. A randomized complete block design was used with four replicates per variety. Plots consisted of rows of 7.6 metres long. The plants within each row were planted 30cm apart, and the spacing between rows was 91cm. Measured characteristics were based on at least 50 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the RHS colour chart.

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

Plant: height (cm)

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Potato: 'Starburst' (V0379-2) (centre) with reference varieties 'Atlantic' (right) and 'Snowden' (left)

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Potato: 'Starburst' (V0379-2) (centre) with reference varieties 'Atlantic' (left) and 'Snowden' (right)