Purple Majesty

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'All Blue'

Summary: 'Purple Majesty' has a large, narrow cylindrical lightsprout while 'All Blue' has a medium sized, conical lightsprout. The tip of the lightsprout in 'Purple Majesty' has an open habit while it is intermediate in 'All Blue'. 'Purple Majesty' has a semi-upright plant growth habit while it is spreading in 'All Blue'. The waviness of the margin of the leaflet in 'Purple Majesty' is medium while it is weak in 'All Blue'. 'Purple Majesty' has a high extent of anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud while it is medium in 'All Blue'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant in 'Purple Majesty' is high while it is medium in 'All Blue'. 'Purple Majesty' has a medium sized inflorescence while it is small in 'All Blue'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle of the inflorescence in 'Purple Majesty' is low while it is high in 'All Blue'. 'Purple Majesty' has a medium extent of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the corolla while it is high in 'All Blue'. The depth of the eyes on the tuber of 'Purple Majesty' is shallow while it is medium in 'All Blue'.

Description:

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

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire length

LEAVES: medium size outline, open openness, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green, high extent and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side, very low to low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, narrower than long width in relation to length
LEAFLET: medium waviness of margin, medium depth veins, dull to medium glossiness on 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: high extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size, medium extent of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side, anthocyanin absent to very weak in intensity with a high proportion of blue

TUBER: short oval to oval, blue parti colour flesh
TUBER EYES: shallow
TUBER SKIN: blue, blue at base of eye

LIGHTSPROUT: large, narrow cylindrical, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, open habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Purple Majesty' (experimental designation CO94165-3P/P) is the result of the cross made in 1994 between 'All Blue' and ND2008-2 at the San Luis Valley Research Centre, Colorado State Univeristy, Centre, Colorado. The selection criteria included yield potential, exceptional attractive tuber type and skin colour.

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.

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Purple Majesty' (left) with reference variety 'All Blue' (right)