Dione

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Innovator'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Dione' is ovoid in shape with a few to a medium number of root tips whereas it is conical in shape with a medium number to many root tips for 'Innovator'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout is very strong for 'Dione' with a high proportion of blue whereas the intensity is weak with the proportion of blue as absent or low for 'Innovator'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the tip of the lightsprout is strong for 'Dione' whereas it is absent or very weak for 'Innovator'. The lightsprout tip is medium in size in relation to the base for 'Dione' whereas it is small for 'Innovator'. 'Dione' has a low frequency of coalescence of the terminal and lateral leaflets whereas it is high in 'Innovator'. 'Dione' has a shorter plant height than 'Innovator'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant for 'Dione' is medium whereas it is high in 'Innovator'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the flower corolla of 'Dione' is low to medium with a weak to medium intensity and a high proportion of blue in the colouration whereas the extent, intensity and proportion of blue in the colouration is absent for 'Innovator'. The plants of 'Dione' are late maturing whereas those of 'Innovator' matures mid-season. The tubers of 'Dione' have an oval to long oval shape and have eyes at a medium depth whereas tubers of 'Innovator' have a long oval shape with shallow eyes.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid, root tips few to medium in numbers, medium lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, with high proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, closed to intermediate habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium to dense pubescence

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

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration at base only

LEAF: medium outline, intermediate to open, 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: weak presence of secondary leaflets, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets, weak to medium waviness of margin, medium to deep veins, medium glossiness of upper side, pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: oval to long-oval shape, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYES: medium depth
TUBER SKIN: reddish brown, yellow at base of eye

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Dione' (experimental designation DAR 98-436) is the result of the cross made in 1997 between 'DAR 89-156' as the female parent and 'Innovator' 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 'Dione' 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 'Dione' with reference variety 'Innovator'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Dione' (left) with reference variety 'Innovator' (right)