Violetta

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'All Blue' and 'Blaue Anneliese'

Summary: The shape of the lightsprout of 'Violetta' is ovoid whereas it is conical for 'All Blue' and is broad cylindrical in shape for 'Blaue Anneliese'. The size of the tip of the lightsprout in relation to the base is medium for 'Violetta' whereas it is small for both reference varieties. The pubescence at the base of the lightsprout is medium to dense on 'Violetta' whereas it is absent or very sparse on 'All Blue' and sparse on 'Blaue Anneliese'. The tip of the lightsprout has a closed habit and sparse to medium density of pubescence on 'Violetta' whereas that of 'All Blue' has a habit that is intermediate between closed and open and dense pubescence. The leaf of 'Violetta' is open with a medium size outline whereas the openness of the leaf of 'Blaue Anneliese' is intermediate between closed and open and has a large outline. The size of the second pair of lateral leaflets for 'Violetta' is medium whereas it is large on 'Blaue Anneliese'. The waviness of the leaflet margin for 'Violetta' is weak whereas it is absent or very weak for 'Blaue Anneliese'. The upper side of the leaflet is glossy for 'Violetta' whereas those for the reference varieties have medium glossiness on the upper side. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the flower bud is absent or very low for 'Violetta' whereas it is low for both reference varieties. The plant of 'Violetta' is shorter than that of 'All Blue' and taller than that of 'Blaue Anneliese'. 'Violetta' has a medium size corolla whereas 'All Blue' has a small corolla. On the inner side of the corolla, the anthocyanin colouration for 'Violetta' is of medium to high extent and medium to strong intensity whereas the extent is absent or very low and the intensity is absent or very weak for 'Blaue Anneliese'. The plant of 'Violetta' matures late in the season whereas that of 'Blaue Anneliese' matures very late.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: small to 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, medium to dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, closed habit, strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium density of pubescence

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

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: outline is medium size, open, dark green on upper side, high extent and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on midrib of upper side, 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 waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, glossy upper side, pubescent blade at apical rosette

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Violetta' originated from a cross made in 2003 between ('La Ratte' × 'Baltica') as the female parent and ('Highland Burgundy' × 'Huamantango') as the male parent at the Karsten Ellenberg breeding station in Barum, Germany. Seed from the cross were sown in the greenhouse in 2004. The resulting tubers were harvested and planted in the field in the spring of 2005. One of the selected progeny was given the designation 'Violetta'. Selection criteria were negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and resistance to various diseases.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Violetta' 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 'Violetta' with reference varieties 'All Blue' and 'Blaue Anneliese'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Violetta' (left) with reference varieties 'All Blue' (centre) and 'Blaue Annaliese' (right)