Merida

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Elfe'

Summary: 'Merida' has a small spherical lightsprout with absent or very sparse pubescence at the base whereas 'Elfe' has a medium sized lightsprout with an ovoid shape and medium pubescence at the base. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout is absent to weak for 'Merida' with the proportion of blue as absent or low whereas the intensity and proportion of blue are medium in 'Elfe'. The lightsprout tip of 'Merida' has a closed habit with absent or very sparse pubescence whereas the lightsprout tip of 'Elfe' has an intermediate habit with medium pubescence. The extent of the anthocyanin colouration is low to medium halfway up the stem for 'Merida' whereas it is absent for 'Elfe'. The waviness of the leaflet margins for 'Merida' is weak whereas it is medium to strong for 'Elfe'. The extent of the anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud is medium for 'Merida' whereas it is absent or very low for 'Elfe'. The frequency of flowers per plant is low for 'Merida' while it is medium for 'Elfe'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle is low for 'Merida' whereas it is absent or very low for 'Elfe'. 'Merida' has weak anthocyanin colouration of the skin of the tuber in reaction to light whereas it is medium in 'Elfe'.

Description:

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

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

STEM: low to medium extent of anthocyanin colouration halfway up the stem

LEAF: 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, ranges from narrower than long to as broad as long width in relation to length
LEAFLETS: medium presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets, weak waviness of margin, shallow depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: short oval to oval shape, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, weak anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Merida' originated from a cross between 'Ma93-69' as the female parent and 'L 175/93/88' as the male parent made in 1998 in Ebstorf (Lower Saxony), Germany. The variety was selected based on positive agronomic criteria.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Merida' were conducted during the 2013 growing season in Drummond, New Brunswick. Each variety plot 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.

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Potato: 'Merida' (left) with reference variety 'Elfe' (right)