Erika

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Agria'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Erika' has a broad cylindrical shape whereas it is ovoid on 'Agria'. The proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout is absent to medium in 'Erika' whereas it is high in 'Agria'. The lightsprout tip of 'Erika' has an intermediate habit, has dense pubescence and a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the tip. The lightsprout tip of 'Agria' has an closed habit, sparse pubescence and a very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the tip. 'Erika' has small to medium leaves with intermediate openness whereas 'Agria' leaves are large and are intermediate to open. The plants of 'Erika' are shorter than those of 'Agria'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant for 'Erika' is absent or very low whereas it is high in 'Agria'. The tuber skin colour of 'Erika' is yellow whereas it is light beige in 'Agria'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, broad cylindrical shape, medium number of root tips, short to medium lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent to medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, medium to dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, intermediate habit, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

PLANT: foliage structure is an intermediate type where foliage is half open and stems are partly visible, semi-upright growth habit, medium maturity

STEM: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire stem

LEAF: small to medium outline, intermediate openness, medium green colour, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, narrower than long width in relation to length
LEAFLETS: medium presence of secondary leaflets, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets, weak to medium waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: absent or very low frequency per plant

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

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Erika' is the result of the cross made in 1997 between 'Marabel' as the female parent and 'AR 88-156' as the male parent at the Niederösterreichische Saatbaugenossenschaft (N.Ö.S.) breeding station in Meires, Austria. Selection criteria were negative mass selection agronomic characteristics and resistance to various diseases.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Erika' were conducted during the 2012 growing season in Drummond, New Brunswick. Each plot per variety consisted of 60 plants grown in a single row with a row length of 18.5 metres and a row spacing of 0.9 metres between rows. Plants were spaced 0.30 metres apart.

Comparison table for 'Erika' with reference variety 'Agria'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Erika' (left) with reference variety 'Agria' (right)