Soprano

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Bintje'

Summary: The base of the lightsprout of 'Soprano' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration with an absent or very low proportion of blue and dense to very dense pubescence while the base of the lightsprout of 'Bintje' has a very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration with a high proportion of blue and sparse pubescence. 'Soprano' has a lightsprout tip that is smaller in size in relation to the base and sparse pubescence while for 'Bintje' it is medium sized in relation to the base with medium pubescence. The lightsprout of 'Soprano' has a medium number of root tips while there are few for 'Bintje'. The midrib on the upper side of the leaf of 'Soprano' has an absent or very low extent of very weak anthocyanin colouration while the midrib of 'Bintje' has a low extent of weak anthocyanin colouration. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud of 'Soprano' is absent or very low while it is high for 'Bintje'. 'Soprano' has a taller plant height than 'Bintje'. 'Soprano' has a low frequency of inflorescences per plant while 'Bintje' has a medium frequency. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle of 'Soprano' is absent or very low while it is medium for 'Bintje'.

Description:

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

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration halfway up

LEAVES: large outline, intermediate openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak 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: medium to large, narrower than long width in relation to length
LEAFLET: very weak to weak waviness of margin, medium depth veins, medium glossiness on upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: long oval to long, light to medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYES: shallow depth
TUBER SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, medium anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

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

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Soprano' is the result of a cross made in 1996 between 'Spunta' and CMK1990-002-002 at Rilland, The Netherlands. The selection criteria included yield, appearance, maturity, disease resistance and quality characteristics.

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 'Soprano' with reference variety 'Bintje'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Soprano' (left) with reference variety 'Bintje' (right)