Tacoma

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Gala'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Tacoma' is large whereas the lightsprout of 'Gala' is medium sized. The foliage structure of the plants of 'Tacoma' is a leaf type (foliage closed, stems not, or hardly visible) whereas 'Gala' has an intermediate type (foliage half open, stems partly visible). 'Tacoma' has no anthocyanin colouration on the stem whereas the extent of anthocyanin colouration at the base of the stem is low for 'Gala'. The second pair of lateral leaflets for 'Tacoma' is large to very large whereas that of 'Gala' is medium sized. The plant of 'Tacoma' is taller than that of 'Gala'. In reaction to light, the tuber skin of 'Tacoma' develops weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the tuber skin of 'Gala' develops medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration.

Description:

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

PLANT: foliage structure is leaf type where foliage is closed and stems are not or hardly visible, semi-upright growth habit, mid-season to late maturity

STEM: no anthocyanin colouration

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

INFLORESCENCE: low to medium frequency per plant, medium size
PEDUNCLE: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER BUD: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium to large, 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, develops weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Tacoma' originated from a cross between the variety 'Marabel', as the female parent, and the variety 'Borwina', as the male parent, conducted in 2002 at the Norika Nordring Kartoffelzucht und Vermehrungs GmbH breeding station in Gross Luesewitz, Germany. From the resulting progeny, 'Tacoma' was selected in 2009 based on negative mass selection and disease resistances.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial for 'Tacoma' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. during the growing season of 2017 in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single, 21.2 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. The 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 'Tacoma' with reference variety 'Gala'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Tacoma' (left) with reference variety 'Gala' (right)