SP241

Potato

Variety Description

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

Summary: 'SP241' has very weak to weak anthocyanin colouration on the stem while it is weak to medium for 'Atlantic'. The leaf of 'SP241' is dark green while it is light to medium green in 'Atlantic'. 'SP241' has medium sized lateral leaflets while they are large in 'Snowden'. The depth of the veins of the terminal and lateral leaflets of 'SP241' are moderate while they are deep in 'Snowden'. 'SP241' has a blue-violet corolla, while it is red-violet in 'Atlantic' and white in 'Snowden'. The corolla of 'SP241' is medium in size while it is large in 'Snowden'. 'SP241' has a smooth skin texture while it is rough in the reference varieties. The light sprout of 'SP241' is large while they are medium sized in the reference varieties. 'SP241' has a narrow cylindrical shaped light sprout while it is ovoid in the reference varieties. The base of the light sprout of 'SP241' has a very strong anthocyanin colouration with a high degree of blue while it is strong with medium degree of blue in 'Atlantic' and weak with absent or low degree of blue in 'Snowden'. 'SP241' has a strong anthocyanin colouration of the tip of the light sprout while it is weak in 'Atlantic' and absent or very weak in 'Snowden'. The light sprout tip of 'SP241' has medium pubescence while it is dense in 'Atlantic' and absent or very sparse in 'Snowden'. 'SP241' has medium number of root tips on the light sprout while it is absent to a very few number in 'Atlantic'.

Description:

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

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

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

INFLORESCENCE: medium flowering profusion, medium size
FLOWER BUD: medium persistence, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: blue-violet, medium to strong anthocyanin colouration on inner surface, medium size, no prominence of star
PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: round, white flesh with no secondary colour
TUBER EYES: shallow depth, evenly distributed, no prominence of eyebrows
TUBER SKIN: light beige, white at base of eye, smooth texture

LIGHT SPROUT: large size, narrow cylindrical shape, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHT SPROUT BASE: very strong anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence
LIGHT SPROUT TIP: smaller in size than base, intermediate habit, strong anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'SP241' is the result of the cross of Allegany x E55-35 made in 1989 in Ithaca, New York, USA. An initial population of 45,000 seedling tubers were planted and evaluated in Alliston, Ontario in 1991. Clones were selected and planted as single hills in 1992 with subsequent selections planted as 5 hills in 1993 and then as 20 hills in 1994. Selection criteria included tuber quality, adaptation, yield, resistance and processing traits.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted in Alliston, Ontario in 2008. Plots consisted of 2 rows, with a row length of 6 meters, a plant spacing of 30 cm within the row and a row spacing of 1 meter. There were 30 plants per plot. There were two replicates.

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Potato: 'SP241' (centre) with reference varieties 'Atlantic' (left) and 'Snowden' (right)