Natascha

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Adora'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Natascha' has a medium number of root tips and sparse pubescence at the base whereas the lightsprout of 'Adora' has few root tips and medium to dense pubescence at the base. The anthocyanin colouration on the stem of 'Natascha' is present halfway up the stem whereas it is along the entire stem on 'Adora'. The anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side of the leaf is absent for 'Natascha' whereas it is of weak extent and weak intensity for 'Adora'. The margin of the leaf blade of 'Natascha' has absent or very weak waviness whereas the leaf blade of 'Adora' has weak to medium waviness of the margin. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the flower bud and peduncle of 'Natascha' is absent or very weak whereas the extent is high for 'Adora'. The anthocyanin colouration of the inner side of the corolla of 'Natascha' is of absent or very low extent and absent or very low intensity whereas the anthocyanin colouration of the inner side of the corolla of 'Adora' is of medium extent and medium intensity. The tuber of 'Natascha' has medium yellow flesh whereas the tuber of 'Adora' has cream coloured flesh. In reaction to light, the tuber skin of 'Natascha' develops a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the tuber skin of 'Adora' develops none or a very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration.

Description:

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

PLANT: foliage structure is intermediate between stem and leaf types where foliage is half open and stems are partly visible, semi-upright growth habit, matures mid to late season

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration halfway up stem

LEAF: outline is medium size, openness is intermediate between closed and open, medium green on upper side, no anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: large, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: absent or very weak waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins, dull upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: long oval shape, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, develops medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Natascha' originated from a cross made in 1998 between 'Marabel' as the female parent and the selection designated '91-050-4' as the male parent as part of a private breeding program at the Saka Pflanzenzucht breeding facility in Windeby, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The resultant seed was planted in a greenhouse in 1999 and from these, tubers were harvested and planted in the field during the spring of 2000. The variety was selected in 2001 for its agronomic characteristics and resistance to various diseases.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Natascha' was conducted during the growing season of 2014 in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single row with 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 of each variety.

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Potato: 'Natascha' (left) with reference variety 'Adora' (right)