Malou

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Fabula'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Malou' is ovoid in shape whereas it is spherical for 'Fabula'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout is strong to very strong for 'Malou' with a medium proportion of blue whereas the intensity is medium with the proportion of blue as absent or low for 'Fabula'. The lightsprout of 'Malou' has dense pubescence at the base and medium pubescense at the tip whereas the lightsprout of 'Fabula' has medium pubescence at the base and sparse pubescence at the tip. The lightsprout tip for 'Malou' has an intermediate habit whereas the tip of 'Fabula' has a closed habit. On the stem, the extent of the anthocyanin colouration is absent for 'Malou' whereas it is low to medium along the entire stem for 'Fabula'. On the upper side of the midrib of the leaf, the extent of the anthocyanin colouration is absent or very low and the intensity is absent or very weak for 'Malou' whereas the extent of the anthocyanin colouration is low and the intensity is weak in 'Fabula'. The leaflets of 'Malou' have shallow veins whereas those of 'Fabula' have medium to deep veins. 'Malou' has a shorter plant height than 'Fabula'. There is an absent or very low frequency of flowers on the plant of 'Malou' while there is a low to medium frequency of flowers on the plant of 'Fabula'. The tubers of 'Malou' have a short oval shape and a medium yellow flesh whereas tubers of 'Fabula' have a short oval to oval shape and a light yellow flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid, root tips few to medium in numbers, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, intermediate habit, medium 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: no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium to 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, 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 or very weak waviness of margin, shallow depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: absent or very low frequency per plant

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

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Malou' originated from a cross between 'Oasis' as the female parent and INRA94T146.43 as the male parent, made at Châteauneuf-du-Faou, France in 2000. Seed of the cross was sown, transplanted into 9 cm pots and grown in the greenhouse during the spring of 2001. One tuber was harvested and planted in the field in 2002. Four tubers were harvested and in 2003 four hill plots were planted from which 30 tubers were harvested. In 2004, 18 seed tubers were planted in the field for seed production and 8 tubers were used for testing. From 2005 to 2008, testing was conducted in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Israel, Egypt, the United Kingdom and Germany. Further evaluations were conducted in Cyprus and Tunisia in 2009 and 2010. Criteria used in the selection process included pest resistance, yield, cooking and frying quality, dry matter content, storability and visual impression.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Malou' 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 'Malou' with reference variety 'Fabula'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Malou' (left) with reference variety 'Fabula' (right)