Barcelona

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Barcelona' is ovoid in shape and medium size whereas the lightsprout of 'Yukon Gold' is spherical in shape and small. The intensity of the anthocyanin colouration of the lightsprout is medium at the base and weak at the tip for 'Barcelona' whereas the intensity is strong at the base and medium at the tip for 'Yukon Gold'. The pubescence at the base of the lightsprout is of medium density on 'Barcelona' whereas it is dense on 'Yukon Gold'. The plant of 'Barcelona' has a semi-upright growth habit whereas that of 'Yukon Gold' has an upright growth habit. The leaf of 'Barcelona' has a closed to intermediate openness whereas that of 'Yukon Gold' is open. On the upper side of the midrib of the leaf, the anthocyanin colouration is of medium extent and intensity for 'Barcelona' whereas the extent of the anthocyanin colouration is absent or very low and the intensity is absent or very weak for 'Yukon Gold'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle is medium for 'Barcelona' whereas the extent is low for 'Yukon Gold'. The colour at the base of the eye on the tuber of 'Barcelona' is yellow whereas it is red on the tuber of 'Yukon Gold'.

Description:

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

PLANT: foliage structure is intermediate 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: medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: outline is medium size, closed to intermediate openness, medium green on upper side, medium extent and 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 size, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak to medium waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins, dull on upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: medium frequency per plant, medium size
PEDUNCLE: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER BUD: medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size, 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: short oval shape, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, in reaction to light the intensity of anthocyanin colouration is absent or very weak

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Barcelona' originated from a cross made in 2001 between 'Mondial' as the female parent and 'Felsina' as the male parent at the Kannegieter private research breeding facility in Emmeloord, The Netherlands. Seed from the cross were sown in the greenhouse at Emmeloord in 2002. The resulting tubers were harvested and planted in the field in the spring of 2003. One of the selected progeny was given the designation 'Barcelona'. Selection criteria were negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and resistance to various diseases.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Barcelona' 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.

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Potato: 'Barcelona' (left) with reference variety 'Yukon Gold' (right)