Orchestra

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Bintje' and 'Agria'

Summary: The base of the lightsprout of 'Orchestra' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration with an absent to low proportion of blue while the reference varieties have a very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration with a high proportion of blue. 'Orchestra' has a lightsprout tip that is small in size in relation to the base while in 'Bintje' it is medium sized in relation to the base. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the lightsprout tip for 'Orchestra' is weak while it is medium for 'Bintje' and very strong for 'Agria'. 'Orchestra' has a low extent of anthocyanin colouration halfway up the stem while it is a medium extent along the entire stem for 'Agria'. 'Orchestra' has a low extent of anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud while it is absent or very low in 'Agria' and high for 'Bintje'. 'Orchestra' has an absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle while it is medium for 'Bintje'. The corolla of 'Orchestra' is medium sized while it is small in 'Bintje'. 'Orchestra' has a medium maturity while it is late for 'Bintje'. 'Orchestra' has a medium yellow tuber flesh while it is light yellow in 'Bintje' and dark yellow in 'Agria'.

Description:

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

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration halfway up

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

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

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Orchestra' is the result of a cross made in 1996 between 'Maradonna' and 'Cupido' 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.

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Orchestra' (left) with reference varieties 'Bintje' (centre) and 'Agria' (right)