Violet Queen

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'All Blue'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Violet Queen' is ovoid in shape whereas that of 'All Blue' is conical. The pubescence of the lightsprout is sparse at the base and medium at the tip on 'Violet Queen' whereas it is absent or very sparse at the base and dense at the tip of the lightsprout on 'All Blue'. The tip of the lightsprout has a closed habit for 'Violet Queen' whereas that of 'All Blue' has a habit that is intermediate between closed and open. The frequency of coalescence of the terminal and lateral leaflets is low for 'Violet Queen' whereas it is absent or very low in 'All Blue'. The waviness of the leaflet margin for 'Violet Queen' is absent or very weak whereas it is weak to medium for 'All Blue'. The glossiness of the leaflet for 'Violet Queen' is dull on the upper side whereas it is medium for 'All Blue'. At the apical rosette, the leaflet blade of 'Violet Queen' is glabrous whereas the leaflet blade of 'All Blue' is pubescent. The anthocyanin colouration of the flower bud is of medium extent for 'Violet Queen' whereas it is low for 'All Blue'. The plant of 'Violet Queen' is shorter than that of 'All Blue'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant is low for 'Violet Queen' whereas it is medium to high for 'All Blue'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle is high for 'Violet Queen' whereas the extent is medium for 'All Blue'. 'Violet Queen' has a small corolla whereas 'All Blue' has a medium size corolla. On the inner side of the corolla, the intensity of anthocyanin colouration for 'Violet Queen' is absent or very low whereas it is of medium to strong intensity for 'All Blue'. On the inner side of the corolla, the anthocyanin colouration for 'Violet Queen' is absent or of very low extent with an absent or low proportion of blue whereas it is of high extent with a high proportion of blue for 'All Blue'. The tuber of 'Violet Queen' has shallow eyes whereas that of 'All Blue' has medium to deep eyes.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence

PLANT: foliage structure is intermediate type between stem and leaf types where foliage is half open and stems are partly visible, semi-upright growth habit, matures mid to late season

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

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

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

TUBER: long oval to long shape, blue parti-coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, blue at base
TUBER SKIN: blue

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Violet Queen' originated from a cross made in 2000 between the selection designated 'VG3CAE 5' as the female parent and 'Charmante' as the male parent at the HZPC Research & Development Centre in Metslawier, The Netherlands. The variety was selected from the F1 progeny in 2002. Selection criteria included internal and external quality, yield and resistances against different diseases and pests. The testing was conducted in The Netherlands and at different locations abroad.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Violet Queen' 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 'Violet Queen' with reference variety 'All Blue'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Violet Queen' (left) with reference variety 'All Blue' (right)