Estrella

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The shape of the lightsprout of 'Estrella' is ovoid whereas the shape of the lightsprout of 'Yukon Gold' is spherical. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the base of the lightsprout of 'Estrella' is weak to medium whereas the intensity is medium to strong for 'Yukon Gold'. In relation to the base, the tip of the lightsprout of 'Estrella' is small whereas the tip of the lightsprout is of medium size for 'Yukon Gold'. The plants of 'Estrella' are shorter than the plants of 'Yukon Gold'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the stem of 'Estrella' is absent or very low to low whereas the extent is medium for 'Yukon Gold'. The inflorescence of 'Estrella' is large whereas the inflorescence of 'Yukon Gold' is small to medium size. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the corolla of 'Estrella' is strong whereas the intensity is weak to medium for 'Yukon Gold'. The colour at the base of the tuber eye of 'Estrella' is yellow whereas the base of the tuber eye of 'Yukon Gold' is red.

Description:

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

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

STEM: absent or very low to low extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire length

LEAF: outline is medium to large, openness is intermediate between closed and open, medium green on upper side, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, medium to strong presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium to large, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak waviness of margin, shallow veins, medium glossiness of upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: high frequency per plant, large
PEDUNCLE: low extent of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER BUD: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: large
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): medium extent of anthocyanin colouration, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval shape, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow to medium depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: light beige

Origin & Breeding History: 'Estrella' originated from a hybridization between the varieties 'Ramona' and 'Arnika' conducted in Bad Schwartau, Germany, in 1994. It was derived from phenotypic recurrent selection that was used during its development and selected as a seedling in 1996 for its tuber appearance, number of tubers per plant, tuber skin colour, and tuber flesh colour. For 10 years, an intensive evaluation process was conducted using public and industry trials throughout Europe to identify the variety. Among the characters defined were its maturity time, yield, disease resistance, processing traits, morphological traits, and storage characteristics.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Estrella' was conducted during the growing season of 2015 in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single, 18.5 metre long row containing 60 plants spaced 0.3 metres apart for each variety. The distance between rows within the trial was 0.9 metres. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Estrella' with reference variety 'Yukon Gold'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Estrella' (left) with reference variety 'Yukon Gold' (right)