Rio Grande Russet

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Russet Norkotah' and 'Russet Burbank'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Rio Grande Russet' is large, narrow cylindrical and has many root tips while the lightsprout of 'Russet Norkotah' is small to medium, ovoid with few root tips and the light sprout of 'Russet Burbank' is medium in size, spherical and has few root tips. 'Rio Grande Russet' has medium pubescence at the base of the lightsprout while it is sparse in 'Russet Norkotah' and dense in 'Russet Burbank'. The size of the lightsprout tip in relation to the base in 'Rio Grande Russet' is small while it is medium sized in the reference varieties. The light sprout tip of 'Rio Grande Russet' has medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration and dense pubescence while the lightsprout tip of 'Russet Norkotah' has weak intensity of anthocyanin and sparse pubescence and 'Russet Burbank' has weak intensity of anthocyanin with medium pubescence. 'Rio Grande Russet' has anthocyanin colouration along the entire stem while 'Russet Norkotah' does not. The plant height of 'Rio Grande Russet' is taller than 'Russet Norkotah'. 'Rio Grande Russet' has a medium extent of anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud while it is high in 'Russet Norkotah'. 'Rio Grande Russet' has a high frequency of inflorescences per plant while it is low in 'Russet Norkotah' and low to medium in 'Russet Burbank'. The inner side of the corolla of 'Rio Grande Russet' has a high extent of weak to medium anthocyanin colouration while the reference varieties have no anthocyanin in the corolla. 'Rio Grande Russet' has a medium to late maturity while it is early to medium in 'Russet Norkotah' and late to very late in 'Russet Burbank'.

Description:

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

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire length

LEAVES: small outline, open openness, weak presence of secondary leaflets, medium green, high extent and medium 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: small to medium size, as broad as long width in relation to length
LEAFLET: medium to strong waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth veins, dull to medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: long, white flesh
TUBER EYES: shallow to medium depth
TUBER SKIN: reddish brown, yellow at base of eye

LIGHTSPROUT: large, narrow cylindrical, many root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, closed habit, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Rio Grande Russet' (experimental designation AC89536-5RU) is the result of the cross made in 1989 between 'Butte' and A8469-5 at the University of Idaho Research and Extension Centre, Aberdeen, Idaho. The selection criteria included vine vigour, tuber shape, tuber colour, tuber quality and lack of defects.

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 'Rio Grande Russet' with reference varieties 'Russet Norkotah' and 'Russet Burbank'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Rio Grande Russet' (left) with reference varieties 'Russet Norkotah' (centre) and 'Russet Burbank' (right)