Leonardo

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Agria'

Summary: The shape of the lightsprout of 'Leonardo' is ovoid whereas it is spherical for 'Agria'. The intensity of the anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout for 'Leonardo' is strong with the proportion of blue as absent or low whereas the intensity of the anthocyanin colouration is very strong with a high proportion of blue for 'Agria'. At the tip of the lightsprout, the intensity of the anthocyanin colouration is absent or very weak for 'Leonardo' whereas it is strong for 'Agria'. On the stem, the extent of the anthocyanin colouration is absent for 'Leonardo' whereas it is medium along the entire stem for 'Agria'. The leaves and second pair of lateral leaflets are large for 'Leonardo' whereas they are medium in size for 'Agria'. 'Leonardo' has an absent or very low frequency of coalescence of the terminal and lateral leaflets whereas it is medium in 'Agria'. The extent of the anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud is medium for 'Leonardo' whereas it is absent or very low for 'Agria'. 'Leonardo' has a shorter plant height than that of 'Agria'. The tubers of 'Leonardo' have a short oval shape and light beige skin whereas they have a long oval shape and yellow skin in 'Agria'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, intermediate habit, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence

PLANT: intermediate to leaf type foliage structure where foliage is half open to closed and stems are partly visible to not, or hardly visible, upright to semi-upright growth habit, medium to late maturity

STEM: no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: large outline, intermediate openness, 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: large, 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, absent or very weak waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium to glossy upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: short oval shape, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: light beige, weak anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Leonardo' originated from a cross made in 1997 between 'TRA 89-462' as the female parent and 'Bolesta' 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: Trials for 'Leonardo' 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 'Leonardo' with reference variety 'Agria'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Leonardo' (left) with reference variety 'Agria' (right)