AAC Alta Rose

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Norland' and 'Sangre'

Summary: The shape of the lightsprout of 'AAC Alta Rose' is broad cylindrical whereas it is ovoid for 'Norland' and conical for 'Sangre'. The lightsprout of 'AAC Alta Rose' has many root tips whereas the lightsprouts of the reference varieties have a medium number of root tips. The pubescence at the base of the lightsprout of 'AAC Alta Rose' is dense whereas it is medium dense for the reference varieties. The lightsprout tip of 'AAC Alta Rose' and 'Sangre' has a closed habit whereas that of 'Norland' has an open habit. The lightsprout tip of 'AAC Alta Rose' has sparse to medium pubescence and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of 'Norland' has dense pubescence and medium intensity of anthocyanin. The plants of 'AAC Alta Rose' are shorter than those of 'Norland'. The plant growth habit of 'AAC Alta Rose' is semi-upright whereas it is spreading for the reference varieties. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the stem is high for 'AAC Alta Rose' whereas it is medium for 'Sangre' and low for 'Norland'. 'AAC Alta Rose' has medium sized leaves whereas the leaves of 'Sangre' are large. Anthocyanin colouration along the midrib of the upper side of the leaf is of medium to high extent and medium to strong intensity for 'AAC Alta Rose' whereas the anthocyanin colouration is of low extent and weak intensity for 'Sangre'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud of 'AAC Alta Rose' is medium to high whereas it is absent or very low for 'Norland'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant is medium for 'AAC Alta Rose' whereas it is of low frequency in the reference varieties. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the flower corolla is high for 'AAC Alta Rose' whereas it is medium for 'Norland' and low to medium for 'Sangre'. The colour of the flesh of the tubers for 'AAC Alta Rose' and 'Sangre' is white whereas it is cream coloured for 'Norland'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: broad cylindrical shape, many root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, closed habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium pubescence

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

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium sized outline, closed to intermediate openness, anthocyanin colouration on the upper side of the midrib is of medium to high extent and medium to strong intensity
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, width in relation to length is narrower than long

INFLORESCENCE: medium frequency per plant, medium size, high extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle
FLOWER BUD: medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size, anthocyanin colouration on the inner side is of high extent and strong intensity with a medium proportion of blue

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Alta Rose' (experimental designations 'AR2010-05', 'CO00088' and 'AAC CV00088-3') originated from a cross made at the San Luis Valley Research Farm of Colorado State University in the United States and was assigned to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Lethbridge Research Centre as per a reciprocal exchange agreement of unselected F1 seedlings. The cross was conducted in 2000 between the variety 'Colorado Rose' as the female parent and the variety 'Dakota Rose' as the male parent. In 2000, true potato seed was sown in a greenhouse at Colorado State University and the resulting seedling tubers were planted in 2001 at AAFC's Vauxhall Research Substation in Alberta for selection. A clone designated 'CV00088-3' was selected in 2001, and progressed through 4-hill, 10-hill, and 50-hill generation stages of selection and evaluation during 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Selection criteria used in the field in Vauxhall and in the laboratory in Lethbridge included vine maturity, appearance, uniformity and shape of tubers, skin colour, incidence of tuber defects, culinary quality, and reaction to diseases including common scab, late blight, fusarium dry rot and verticillium wilt. From 2005 to 2009, this variety was evaluated in the Western Canadian Regional Trials and the National Potato Variety Trials and was released in 2010 as a result of the Accelerated Release program.

Tests & Trials: The trial for 'AAC Alta Rose' was conducted in 2013 at the Potato Research Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Fredericton, New Brunswick. There were 2 replicates. Each replicated 640 metres squared plot consisted of 60 plants grown in two rows with a row length of 7.5 metres and a row spacing of 0.9 metres between rows. Plants were spaced 0.25 metres apart. The measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements per variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Alta Rose' with reference varieties 'Norland' and 'Sangre'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

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Potato: 'AAC Alta Rose' (left) with reference varieties 'Norland' (center) and 'Sangre' (right)

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Potato: 'AAC Alta Rose' (left) with reference varieties 'Norland' (center) and 'Sangre' (right)