Carolina

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Red Pontiac'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Carolina' is medium size with many root tips whereas that of 'Red Pontiac' is medium to large with a medium number of root tips. The tip of the lightsprout of 'Carolina' has medium density pubescence and a closed habit whereas that of 'Red Pontiac' has dense pubescence and a habit that is intermediate between closed and open. The foliage structure of 'Carolina' is a leaf type with the foliage closed and stems not, or hardly, visible whereas that of 'Red Pontiac' is an intermediate type with the foliage half open and stems partly visible. The extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire stem of 'Carolina' is high whereas it is low for 'Red Pontiac'. On the upper side of the midrib of the leaf, the extent of anthocyanin colouration for 'Carolina' is high whereas the anthocyanin colouration is of low extent for 'Red Pontiac'. The leaflet from the second pair of lateral leaflets is narrower than it is long for 'Carolina' whereas the leaflet is as broad as it is long for 'Red Pontiac'. The plant of 'Carolina' is taller than that of 'Red Pontiac'. 'Carolina' has small inflorescences whereas that of 'Red Pontiac' are a medium size. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the corolla is high to very high for 'Carolina' whereas the extent is medium for 'Red Pontiac'. The tuber of 'Carolina' is short oval to oval in shape with shallow eyes whereas the tuber of 'Red Pontiac' is round with deep eyes.

Description:

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

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

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

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

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

TUBER: short oval to oval shape, white flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, red at base
TUBER SKIN: red

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Carolina' originated from a cross made in 1998 between 'Red Pontiac' as the female parent and the selection designated 'RZ-84-67' as the male parent at the HZPC Research & Development Centre in Metslawier, The Netherlands. The variety was selected from the F1 progeny in 2000. 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 'Carolina' 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 'Carolina' with reference variety 'Red Pontiac'

Plant height (cm)

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