Romeo

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Chieftain'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Romeo' is large while it is medium sized in 'Chieftain'. The lightsprout base of 'Romeo' has a very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration with a medium proportion of blue and absent or very weak pubescence while 'Chieftain' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin with an absent to low proportion of blue and medium pubescence. The tip of the lightsprout of 'Romeo' has an intermediate habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration and sparse pubescence while the tip of the light sprout of 'Chieftain' has a closed habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin and dense pubescence. 'Romeo' has a medium extent of anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud while it is low in 'Chieftain'. The corolla of 'Romeo' is small with a medium extent of weak to medium anthocyanin colouration while the corolla of 'Chieftain' is medium to large with a high extent of medium to strong anthocyanin. 'Romeo' matures very late while 'Chieftain' matures medium to late. The plant height of 'Romeo' is taller than 'Chieftain'. 'Romeo' has a cream coloured tuber flesh while it is white in 'Chieftain'.

Description:

PLANT: leaf type foliage structure, semi-upright growth habit, very late maturity

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire length

LEAVES: large outline, intermediate to open openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, dark green, high extent and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: very large, as broad as long width in relation to length
LEAFLET: weak waviness of margin, medium to deep veins, glossy on upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: short oval to oval, cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYES: shallow depth
TUBER SKIN: red, red at base of eye

LIGHTSPROUT: large, ovoid, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, intermediate habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Romeo' is the result of the cross made in 1997 between 'Ambo' and 'Rooster' at the Teagasc Oak Park Research Centre, Carlow, Co. Carlow, Ireland. The selection criteria included earliness, skin finish quality, disease resistance, yield and taste.

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 'Romeo' with reference variety 'Chieftain'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Romeo' (left) with reference variety 'Chieftain' (right)