Sassy

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The plants of 'Sassy' mature late while the plants of 'Yukon Gold' mature early to mid-season. The flower bud of 'Sassy' has a medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration while the flower bud of 'Yukon Gold' has an absent or very low extent of anthocyanin. The light sprout of 'Sassy' is ovoid in shape while the light sprout of 'Yukon Gold' is spherical in shape. The light sprout base of 'Sassy' has very strong anthocyanin colouration with a high proportion of blue while the light sprout base of 'Yukon Gold' has medium anthocyanin with an absent or low proportion of blue. The tip of the light sprout of 'Sassy' has strong anthocyanin and very dense pubescence while the tip of the light sprout of 'Yukon Gold' has weak anthocyanin and sparse pubescence.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, foliage structure intermediate between stem and leaf type, late maturity

STEM: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration located halfway up stem

LEAVES: medium to large, intermediate openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green, absent to low extent of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, absent to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: large, narrower than long to as broad as long
LEAFLETS: weak to medium waviness of margin, medium to deep veins, medium glossiness on upper side, pubescence present on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: round, light to medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYES: medium depth
TUBER SKIN: light beige, yellow at base of eye, medium anthocyanin colouration of skin in reaction to light

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHT SPROUT BASE: very strong anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence density
LIGHT SPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, closed habit, strong anthocyanin colouration, very dense pubescence.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Sassy' originated from a cross between 'G82TT137001' and 'Promesse', made at Châteauneuf-du-Faou, France in 1991. Seed of the cross was sown, transplanted into 9 cm pots and grown in the greenhouse during the spring of 1992. One tuber was harvested and planted in the field in 1993. Four tubers were harvested and in 1994 four hill plots were planted from which 30 tubers were harvested. In 1995 18 seed tubers were planted in the field for seed production and 8 tubers were planted at the breeding station for agronomic trials. From 1996 to 1999 further testing was conducted in France and Germany. Criteria used in the selection process included pest resistance, yield, cooking and frying quality, dry matter content, storability and visual impression.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Sassy' were conducted during the summer of 2010 in Drummond, New Brunswick. Plots consisted of one row with a row length of 18.5 meters and a row spacing of 90 cm. Plants were spaced 30 cm apart within the row. There were 60 plants per variety in the trial.

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Sassy' (right) with reference variety 'Yukon Gold' (left)