Classic Russet

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Russet Norkotah'

Summary: The plants of 'Classic Russet' have a stem type foliage structure while the plants of 'Russet Norkotah' have a leaf type foliage structure. The stems of 'Classic Russet' have a high extent of anthocyanin colouration while the stems of 'Russet Norkotah' have an absent or very low extent of anthocyanin. The light sprout of 'Classic Russet' is large in size and broad cylindrical in shape while the light sprout of 'Russet Norkotah' is small to medium in size and ovoid in shape. The base of the light sprout of 'Classic Russet' has very strong anthocyanin colouration and dense pubescence while the base of the light sprout of 'Russet Norkotah' has medium anthocyanin and sparse to medium pubescence. The tip of the light sprout of 'Classic Russet' has strong anthocyanin and dense pubescence while the tip of the light sprout of 'Russet Norkotah' has absent to weak anthocyanin and sparse pubescence.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright to spreading growth habit, stem type foliage structure, mid-season maturity

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration located along entire stem

LEAVES: medium size, open silhouette, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green, low extent of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: small to medium size, narrower than long width in relation to length
LEAFLETS: absent or very weak waviness of margin, medium depth veins, medium glossiness on upper side, pubescence present on blade at apical rosette

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

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Classic Russet' originated from a cross between 'Blazer Russet' and 'Summit Russet', made in Aberdeen, Idaho, USA in 1995. The variety was selected in the field as a seedling in 1996 at Aberdeen, Idaho. A phenotypic recurrent selection technique was utilized in its development. The variety was evaluated for 12 years in public and industry trials throughout the western United States. Selection criteria included maturity, yield, disease resistance, processing traits, morphological traits and storage characteristics.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Classic Russet' 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.

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Potato: 'Classic Russet' (right) with reference variety 'Russet Norkotah' (left)