Bafana

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Russet Burbank'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Bafana' is large whereas the lightsprout of 'Russet Burbank' is small to medium in size. The shape of the lightsprout of 'Bafana' is broad cylindrical whereas the lightsprout of 'Russet Burbank' is spherical. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the base of the lightsprout of 'Bafana' is strong whereas the intensity is medium for 'Russet Burbank'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the peduncle of 'Bafana' is absent or very low whereas the extent is medium for 'Russet Burbank'. The colour of the tuber skin of 'Bafana' is yellow whereas the tuber skin of 'Russet Burbank' is reddish brown.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: large, broad cylindrical shape, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

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

STEM: low to medium extent of anthocyanin colouration at base only

LEAF: outline is medium size, openness is open, medium green on upper side, high extent and weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, medium presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very 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 to weak waviness of margin, shallow veins, medium glossiness of upper side, pubescent blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: low to medium frequency per plant, medium size
PEDUNCLE: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER BUD: medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: long oval shape, white to cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, develops weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Bafana' originated from a cross conducted at the KWS Potato B.V. breeding station located in Emmeloord, Netherlands, in 1997, between the varieties 'Victoria' and 'Felsina'. It was selected as a seedling in 1998 for its yield, stress tolerance, tuber length, dry matter content, dry matter distribution, storability, nematode resistance and flesh colour. Further work on selected seedlings involved 8 years of intensive evaluation in private and public trials during which many characteristics such as maturity, yield, disease resistance, processing traits, morphological traits, and storage characteristics were assessed for use in identifying the variety.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Bafana' was conducted during the growing season of 2015 in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single, 18.5 metre long row containing 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, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

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Potato: 'Bafana' (left) with reference variety 'Russet Burbank' (right)