Sundance

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Sundance' has a broad cylindrical shape with a medium number of root tips whereas 'Yukon Gold' has a spherical shape with few root tips. The lightsprout of 'Sundance' is medium to large in size and has medium to long lateral shoots whereas the lightsprout is small to medium in size and has short lateral shoots for 'Yukon Gold'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the base and tip of the lightsprout is strong for 'Sundance' whereas it is medium for 'Yukon Gold'. The lightsprout base of 'Sundance' has sparse to medium pubescence whereas it is medium to dense for 'Yukon Gold'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the stem is absent for 'Sundance' whereas it is medium and halfway up the stem for 'Yukon Gold'. The plants of 'Sundance' have an absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side of the leaf whereas these are low in plants of 'Yukon Gold'. 'Sundance' has a shorter plant height than 'Yukon Gold'. The anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the flower corolla of 'Sundance' is absent or very weak in intensity and its extent is absent or very low whereas the intensity of the anthocyanin colouration is weak to medium and the extent is high for 'Yukon Gold'. The plants of 'Sundance' mature mid to late season whereas those of 'Yukon Gold' matures early to mid-season. The tubers of 'Sundance' have eyes at a medium depth and a medium to dark yellow flesh whereas the tubers of 'Yukon Gold' have eyes at a shallow to medium depth and a light yellow flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium to large size, broad cylindrical shape, medium number of root tips, medium to long lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, with absent to medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, closed habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium 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: no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium outline, open, medium to 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, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets, absent to weak waviness of margin, medium to deep veins, medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: high frequency per plant, medium to large size, low extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle
FLOWER BUD: high extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium to large 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: round to short oval shape, medium to dark yellow flesh
TUBER EYES: medium depth
TUBER SKIN: yellow, red at base of eye, absent to weak anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Sundance' (experimental designation HZ-97-185) is the result of the cross made in 1996 between 'RZ-89-2050' as the female parent and 'Quarta' 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 'Sundance' 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 'Sundance' with reference variety 'Yukon Gold'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

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