Gourmetessa

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Gala' and 'Tessa'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Gourmetessa' is small whereas the lightsprout of 'Gala' and 'Tessa' are medium sized. The anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout of 'Gourmetessa' is of medium intensity with an absent or low proportion of blue whereas it is strong with a medium proportion of blue for 'Gala'. The pubescence at the base of the lightsprout of 'Gourmetessa' is dense whereas it is sparse to medium on the base of the lightsprout of 'Gala'. The lightsprout of 'Gourmetessa' has a medium number of root tips whereas 'Tessa' has few root tips. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the stem of 'Gourmetessa' is absent or very low whereas the extent is low on 'Gala' and medium on 'Tessa'. The extent of anthocyanin colouration along the midrib of the upper side of the leaf of 'Gourmetessa' is absent or very low whereas it is a medium extent on 'Tessa'. The plants of 'Gourmetessa' are shorter than those of the reference varieties. The frequency of inflorescence per plant is medium for 'Gourmetessa' whereas it is high for the reference varieties. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the corolla of 'Gourmetessa' is absent or very low whereas it is medium to high on 'Tessa'. The tuber of 'Gourmetessa' has a long oval shape, shallow eyes and medium yellow flesh whereas that of 'Gala' has a round to short oval shape, very shallow eyes and light yellow flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: small, ovoid, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse to sparse pubescence

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

STEM: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium size outline, intermediate openness, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, light to medium green upper side, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of upper side of mid-rib, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium to large, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak to medium waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins, medium to glossy upper side, pubescence on blade at apical rosette

PEDUNCLE: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration
INFLORESCENCE: medium frequency per plant, small to medium size
FLOWER BUD: absent or very low to low 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, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, develops weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Gourmetessa' (experimental designation F 8123) originated from a cross between 'Nagler Kipfler', as the female parent, and 'Quarta', as the male parent, conducted in 1999 at the Saatzucht Firlbeck GmbH & Co. KG breeding station in Atting-Rinkam, Germany. In 2000, the true potato seed resulting from the cross was sown in a greenhouse and the resulting seedling tubers field planted in Atting-Rinkam, Germany. In 2001, F 5102 was identified. Selection criteria was based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Gourmetessa' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. during the 2018 growing season in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single, 21 metre long row containing 70 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. The mean difference was significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Gourmetessa' with reference varieties 'Gala' and 'Tessa'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Gourmetessa' (left) with reference varieties 'Gala' (centre) and 'Tessa' (right)