Purple Prince

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'All Blue'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Purple Prince' is ovoid in shape with few root tips and lateral shoots of medium length whereas the lightsprout of 'All Blue' is conical in shape with a medium number of root tips and short lateral shoots. The pubescence at the base of the lightsprout of 'Purple Prince' is dense whereas it is absent or very sparse on 'All Blue'. The plant of 'Purple Prince' is shorter than that of 'All Blue'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side of the leaf is medium for 'Purple Prince' whereas the extent is high to very high for 'All Blue'. The proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the corolla is absent or low for 'Purple Prince' whereas the proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration for 'All Blue' is high. The tuber of 'Purple Prince' has medium yellow parti-coloured flesh whereas the tuber of 'All Blue' has blue parti-coloured flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, few root tips, medium length lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense 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, late maturity

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: outline is medium to large, open, dark green on upper side, medium 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: medium waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, pubescent blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: oval to long oval shape, medium yellow parti-coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: very deep, blue at base
TUBER SKIN: blue

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Purple Prince' originated from a cross made in 1992 between the selections designated '344 CON 1148' as the female parent and '397 CON 907' as the male parent as part of a private breeding program at the Papas Arco Iris Ltda breeding facility in Puerto Varas, Chile. The resultant seed was planted in a greenhouse in Puerto Varas in 1996 and from these, tubers were harvested and planted in the field during the spring of 1997. The variety was selected in 1997 for its agronomic characteristics and resistance to various diseases.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Purple Prince' 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 'Purple Prince' with reference variety 'All Blue'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Purple Prince' (left) with reference variety 'All Blue' (right)