Huckleberry Gold

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Caribe'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Huckleberry Gold' is spherical with dense pubescence at the base whereas the lightsprout of 'Caribe' is ovoid in shape with medium pubescence at the base. On the upper side of the midrib of the leaf, the extent of the anthocyanin colouration is very high and the intensity is strong for 'Huckleberry Gold' whereas the extent and intensity of the anthocyanin colouration are medium in 'Caribe'. The second pair of lateral leaflets for 'Huckleberry Gold' is medium sized whereas it is large on 'Caribe'. The waviness of the leaflet margins for 'Huckleberry Gold' is medium whereas it is absent or very weak for 'Caribe'. 'Huckleberry Gold' has a shorter plant height than that of 'Caribe'. On the inner side of the corolla, the intensity of anthocyanin colouration is strong for 'Huckleberry Gold' with the proportion of blue as absent to low whereas the intensity is medium for 'Caribe'with a high proportion of blue. The plants of 'Huckleberry Gold' mature mid-season whereas those of 'Caribe' mature early. The tubers of 'Huckleberry Gold' have a round to short oval shape and dark yellow flesh whereas the tubers of 'Caribe' have an oval to long oval shape and white flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: small to medium size, spherical shape, many root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium 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: medium outline, open, medium green colour, very high extent and 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, medium waviness of margin, shallow to 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, medium extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle
FLOWER BUD: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size, high to very high extent and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side, absent or low proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: round to short oval shape, dark yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow to medium depth, blue at base
TUBER SKIN: blue

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Huckleberry Gold' originated from a cross between 'Agria' as the female parent and COA94019-5R as the male parent, made at the University of Idaho's Aberdeen Research and Extension Center in 1999. The variety was selected as a seedling in the field in 2003 at Aberdeen, Idaho. Selection criteria were negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and resistance to various diseases.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Huckleberry Gold' 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. The measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements per variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Huckleberry Gold' with reference variety 'Caribe'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Huckleberry Gold' (left) with reference variety 'Caribe' (right)