Baby Rose

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Red Pontiac'

Summary: The tip of the lightsprout of 'Baby Rose' has sparse pubescence and a closed habit whereas that of 'Red Pontiac' has dense pubescence and a habit that is intermediate between closed and open. At the tip of the lightsprout, the intensity of the anthocyanin colouration for 'Baby Rose' is strong whereas the intensity is medium for 'Red Pontiac'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire stem of 'Baby Rose' is high to very high whereas it is low for 'Red Pontiac'. On the upper side of the midrib of the leaf, the anthocyanin colouration for 'Baby Rose' is of very high extent and strong to very strong intensity whereas the anthocyanin colouration is of low extent and weak to medium intensity for 'Red Pontiac'. The leaflet from the second pair of lateral leaflets is narrower than it is long for 'Baby Rose' whereas the leaflet is as broad as it is long for 'Red Pontiac'. 'Baby Rose' has a high frequency of coalescence of the terminal and lateral leaflets whereas it is absent or very low in 'Red Pontiac'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the flower bud is low for 'Baby Rose' whereas it is high for 'Red Pontiac'. The plant of 'Baby Rose' is taller than that of 'Red Pontiac'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle and inner side of the flower corolla is high to very high for 'Baby Rose' whereas the extent is medium for 'Red Pontiac'. The tuber of 'Baby Rose' is oval to long oval in shape with light yellow flesh and shallow eyes whereas the tuber of 'Red Pontiac' is round with white flesh and deep eyes.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, root tips few in numbers, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low to medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, closed habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

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

STEM: high to very high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: outline is medium size, openness is intermediate between closed and open, dark green on upper side, very high extent and strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, weak presence of secondary leaflets, high frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: medium waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: oval to long oval shape, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, red at base
TUBER SKIN: red

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Baby Rose' originated from a cross made in 1997 between 'Red Scarlett' as the female parent and the selection designated 'RZ-88-404' as the male parent at the HZPC Research & Development Centre in Metslawier, The Netherlands. The variety was selected from the F1 progeny in 1999. Selection criteria included internal and external quality, yield and resistance against different diseases and pests. The testing was conducted in The Netherlands as well as at different locations abroad.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Baby Rose' was conducted during the growing season of 2014 in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single row with 60 plants spaced 0.3 metres apart for each variety. The distance between rows within the trial was 0.9 metres. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Baby Rose' with reference variety 'Red Pontiac'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Baby Rose' (left) with reference variety 'Red Pontiac' (right)