AAC Hamer

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Atlantic'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'AAC Hamer' is spherical shaped whereas it is ovoid for 'Atlantic'. The lightsprout tip of 'AAC Hamer' has a closed habit and is small in relation to the base whereas 'Atlantic' has an open habit and is large in relation to the base. The pubescence of the lightsprout is medium at the base and very sparse at the tip on 'AAC Hamer' whereas it is dense at the base and tip on 'Atlantic'. The foliage structure of 'AAC Hamer' is an intermediate type with the foliage half open and stems partly visible whereas that of 'Atlantic' is a leaf type with the foliage closed and stems not, or hardly, visible. 'AAC Hamer' has a semi-upright growth habit whereas it is upright for 'Atlantic'. 'AAC Hamer' has medium sized leaves whereas those of 'Atlantic' are small. The glossiness on the upper side of the leaflet of 'AAC Hamer' is medium whereas it is dull for 'Atlantic'. The plants of 'AAC Hamer' mature early to mid season while those of 'Atlantic' mature mid to late season.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, spherical shape, medium number of root tips, medium length lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small size in relation to base, closed habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, very sparse pubescence

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

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium sized outline, intermediate openness, medium green colour, no anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, width is narrower than it is long
LEAFLETS: medium presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets, weak waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side

INFLORESCENCE: medium frequency per plant, medium size, very low extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle
FLOWER BUD: low extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size, medium extent and intensity of anthocyanin colouration on inner side, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: round shape, cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: very shallow to shallow, white at base
TUBER SKIN: light beige

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Hamer' (experimental designations 'CV96044-3', 'CO96044' and 'AR2012-04') originated from a cross made at the San Luis Valley Research Farm, Colorado State University, USA in 1996 between the female parent designated 'AC87340-2' and the male parent designated 'ND2008-2'. In 1997, true potato seed was sown in a greenhouse at Colorado State University and the resulting seedling tubers were planted in 1998 at the Vauxhall Research Substation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Vauxhall, Alberta. A clone designated 'CV96044-3' was selected in 1998, and progressed through 4-hill, 10-hill, and 50-hill generation stages of selection and evaluation at Vauxhall in 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. Selection criteria included vine maturity, appearance, uniformity and shape of tubers, specific gravity, chip colour at harvest and out of long-term storage, incidence of tuber defects, and reaction to diseases including common scab, late blight and fusarium dry rot. From 2002 to 2005, this variety was evaluated in the Western Canadian Regional Trials. Then, it was tested in 2011 in the National Potato Variety Trials and was released in 2012 as 'AR2012-04'.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'AAC Hamer' was conducted during the 2014 growing season at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Potato Research Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of 2 replicates with 30 plants per variety in each replicate, grown in two 7.5 metre length rows spaced 90 centimetres apart. Plants were spaced 25 centimetres apart in the row. Measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety.

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Potato: 'AAC Hamer' (left) with reference variety 'Atlantic' (right)