AAC Boreal

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Chieftain' and 'Norland'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'AAC Boreal' is medium in size whereas it is small for 'Chieftain'. The base of the lightsprout for 'AAC Boreal' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of 'Chieftain' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The base of the lightsprout for 'AAC Boreal' has a medium density of pubescence while that of 'Norland' has dense pubescence. The lightsprout tip for 'AAC Boreal' has a closed habit while the lighsprout tip of 'Chieftain' has an intermediate habit and that of 'Norland' has an open habit. The plants of 'AAC Boreal' have a spreading growth habit while the plants of 'Chieftain' have a semi-upright growth habit. The stem of 'AAC Boreal' has a low extent of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of 'Chieftain' has a medium extent of anthocyanin colouration. The leaf of 'AAC Boreal' has a large outline whereas that of 'Chieftain' has a medium sized outline. The upper side of the leaf of 'AAC Boreal' is light green whereas it is dark green for the reference varieties. The plants of 'AAC Boreal' are shorter than those of the reference varieties. The plants of 'AAC Boreal' have a low frequency of inflorescences while the plants of 'Chieftain' have a high frequency of inflorescences and those of 'Norland' have a medium frequency of inflorescences. The plants of 'AAC Boreal' mature mid-season while those of 'Norland' mature early in the season.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium sized, conical, many root tips, medium length lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence

PLANT: foliage structure is leaf type where foliage is closed and stems are not or hardly visible, spreading growth habit, matures mid-season

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: large outline, intermediate openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, light green upper side, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium sized, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak degree of waviness of margin, shallow veins

PEDUNCLE: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
INFLORESCENCE: low frequency per plant, medium sized
FLOWER BUD: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: small
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): medium extent and medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval, white flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow, red at base
TUBER SKIN: red

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Boreal' (experimental designations AR2010-06 and CV99073-1) originated from a cross made between the experimental line AC91848-1 and the variety 'Colorado Rose' conducted at the Colorado State University San Luis Valley Research Centre, in Center, Colorado, USA, in 1999. In 2000, the true potato seed resulting from the cross was sown in a greenhouse at Colorado State University and the resulting seedling tubers planted at the Vauxhall Research Substation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2001. A clone designated as CV99073-1 was selected in 2001 from a single hill trial based on vine maturity, tuber appearance, shape, size, skin colour and uniformity along with lower incidence of tuber defect, reaction to common scab and culinary qualities.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'AAC Boreal' was conducted during the 2019 growing season at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Fredericton Research and Development Centre, in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of 2 replicates per variety arranged in a RCB design. Each replicate consisted of 40 plants in a 12 metre length row. The rows were spaced 90 centimetres apart and the plants were spaced 25 centimetres apart within the row. Measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. The mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'AAC Boreal' with reference varieties 'Chieftain' and 'Norland'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'AAC Boreal' (centre) with reference varieties 'Norland' (left) and 'Chieftain' (right)

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Potato: 'AAC Boreal' (left) with reference varieties 'Chieftain' (centre) and 'Norland' (right)