Countessa

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Russet Burbank'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Countessa' is medium sized and ovoid in shape with sparse pubescence at the base whereas the lightsprout of 'Russet Burbank' is small and spherical with dense pubescence at the base. The proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout of 'Countessa' is medium whereas it is absent to low on 'Russet Burbank'. The lightsprout tip of 'Countessa' is small in relation to the base with medium pubescence whereas it is medium sized in relation to the base with sparse pubescence in 'Russet Burbank'. The stem of 'Countessa' has an absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration whereas it is low to medium along the entire stem for 'Russet Burbank'. The openness of the leaf of 'Countessa' is intermediate while it is open for 'Russet Burbank'. The presence of secondary leaflets is medium for 'Countessa' while it is weak for 'Russet Burbank'. The leaf of 'Countessa' is dark green whereas it is medium green for 'Russet Burbank'. The frequency of coalescence of the terminal and lateral leaflets of 'Countessa' is low whereas it is absent or very low in 'Russet Burbank'. The plant of 'Countessa' is shorter than that of 'Russet Burbank'. The maturity of 'Countessa' is medium while it is late to very late for 'Russet Burbank'. The tubers of 'Countessa' have a long-oval shape with eyes at a shallow depth whereas the tubers of 'Russet Burbank' are long with medium depth eyes. The tuber skin colour of 'Countessa' is yellow whereas it is reddish brown in 'Russet Burbank'. The tuber flesh of 'Countessa' is light yellow whereas it is white in 'Russet Burbank'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid, root tips few in numbers, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, with medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, closed habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence

PLANT: intermediate to leaf type foliage structure where foliage is half open to closed and stems are partly visible to not, or hardly visible, upright to semi-upright growth habit, medium maturity

STEM: no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: large outline, intermediate openness, dark 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 to large size, as broad as long width in relation to length
LEAFLETS: medium presence of secondary leaflets, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets, absent to weak waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Countessa' is the result of the cross made in 1995 between 'Santana' as the female parent and 'Victoria' as the male parent at the HZPC Research & Development Centre in Metslawier, The Netherlands. Selection criteria included internal and external quality, yield and resistances against different diseases and pests.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Countessa' 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 'Countessa' with reference variety 'Russet Burbank'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Countessa' (left) with reference variety 'Russet Burbank' (right)