Impact

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Shepody', 'Coastal Russet', 'Russet Burbank' and 'Kennebec'

Summary: The corolla of 'Impact' is white whereas it is blue-violet on 'Shepody' and 'Coastal Russet'. The tuber skin of 'Impact' is netted whereas it is smooth on 'Shepody' and 'Kennebec' and russetted on 'Coastal Russet' and 'Russet Burbank'. The tubers of 'Impact' are oblong whereas they are long on 'Shepody' and cylindrical on 'Russet Burbank'. The tubers of 'Impact' have medium prominence of eyebrows whereas they have very slight prominence on 'Shepody' and 'Coastal Russet' and slight prominence on 'Kennebec'. The light sprouts of 'Impact' are spherical in shape whereas they are ovoid on 'Shepody' and conical on 'Coastal Russet'. 'Impact' has no pubescence at the base of the light sprout whereas it is dense on 'Shepody' and 'Russet Burbank' and medium in density on 'Coastal Russet' and 'Kennebec'. The tip of the light sprout of 'Impact' is larger than the base whereas it is equal in size in 'Shepody', 'Coastal Russet' and 'Russet Burbank' and smaller than the tip on 'Kennebec'.

Description:

PLANT: mid to late season maturity, upright growth habit, intermediate type foliage structure
STEM: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on the stem, thin, absent or very low swelling of nodes

LEAVES: medium green, intermediate to open silhouette, absent or very low frequency of coalescence with lateral leaflets, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of rachis, absent or very weak waviness of margin, medium presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: broadly ovate shape, acuminate tip, cordate base
LATERAL LEAFLET: medium size, medium ovate shape, acuminate tip, cordate base

INFLORESCENCE: medium flowering profusion, medium to large in size, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of flower bud
COROLLA: white, medium to large in size, strong prominence of star, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on peduncle

TUBER: oblong
TUBER SKIN: light beige, white at base of eye, netted
TUBER EYES: shallow, medium prominence of eyebrows
TUBER FLESH: white, no secondary colour

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, spherical shape, few root tips, short lateral shoots
BASE: medium anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
TIP: larger than base in size, intermediate habit, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Impact' originated through the hybridization of 'Acadia Russett' and 'B6503-2' conducted in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1990. Initial selections were carried out in 1992. Selection criteria included adaptation, tuber type and french fry quality.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Impact' were conducted at the Potato Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fredericton, New Brunswick during the summer of 2008. The trials consisted of 2 replicates per variety, ranging from 20 to 25 plants per replicate, measuring approximately 11 metres in length. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the RHS colour chart, 4th edition, 2001.

Comparison tables for 'Impact' with reference varieties 'Shepody', 'Coastal Russet', 'Russet Burbank' and 'Kennebec'

Plant height (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

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Potato: 'Impact' (AR98-7) (left) with reference variety 'Coastal Russet' (right)

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Potato: 'Impact' (AR98-7) (left) with reference variety 'Russet Burbank' (right)

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Potato: 'Impact' (AR98-7) (left) with reference variety 'Kennebec' (right)