Purple Magic

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'All Blue'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Purple Magic' has a broad cylindrical shape with sparse pubescence at the base whereas it is conical in shape with an absent or very sparse pubescence at the base for 'All Blue'. The tip of the lightsprout of 'Purple Magic' has a closed habit and medium pubescence whereas it has an intermediate habit and dense pubescence in 'All Blue'. 'Purple Magic' has a glabrous leaflet blade at the apical rosette whereas it is pubescent for 'All Blue'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the flower bud is absent or very low for 'Purple Magic' whereas the extent is low for 'All Blue'. 'Purple Magic' has an absent to low extent of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle whereas the extent is medium for 'All Blue'. The extent of the anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the corolla is medium for 'Purple Magic' whereas it is high for 'All Blue'. The tubers of 'Purple Magic' have a long oval shape, with eyes that are at a shallow depth and a blue parti colour flesh whereas the tubers of 'All Blue' are long oval to long in shape, with eyes that are at a medium depth and a blue flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium to large, broad cylindrical shape, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, closed habit, very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence

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

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire length

LEAF: small to medium outline, open, medium to dark green colour, very high extent and very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, narrower than 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 to medium waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: long-oval shape, blue parti colour flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, blue at base
TUBER SKIN: blue

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Purple Magic' originated from a cross between 'Premiere' as the female parent and 'Congo' as the male parent, made at the AFBI breeding station located in Loughgall, Co. Armagh, United Kingdom in 2003. Final selection took place in the field as a seedling in 2004. A recurrent selection technique was utilized in its development along with an intensive evaluation process of 6 years in private and public trials. Selection criteria included maturity, yield, disease resistance, processing traits and storage characteristics.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Purple Magic' 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: 'Purple Magic' (left) with reference variety 'All Blue' (right)