Abalone

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Calwhite'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Abalone' is medium size whereas the lightsprout of 'Calwhite' is large. The base of the lightsprout of 'Abalone' has sparse to medium density of pubescence whereas the base of the lightsprout of 'Calwhite' has medium to dense pubescence. The tip of the lightsprout of 'Abalone' has an intermediate between closed and open habit whereas the tip of the lightsprout of 'Calwhite' has a closed habit. The plants of 'Abalone' are shorter than the plants of 'Calwhite'. The leaf outline of 'Abalone' is medium size whereas the leaf outline of 'Calwhite' is large. The upper side of the leaf of 'Abalone' is light green whereas the leaf of 'Calwhite' is medium green. The extent of anthocyanin colouration on the upper side of the midrib is high for 'Abalone' whereas the extent is low for 'Calwhite'. At the apical rosette, the leaflet blade of 'Abalone' is glabrous whereas the leaflet blade of 'Calwhite' is pubescent. The extent of anthocyanin colouration of the flower bud is high for 'Abalone' whereas the extent is absent or very low for 'Calwhite'. The anthocyanin colouration of the inner side of the corolla is of strong extent and strong intensity for 'Abalone' whereas the anthocyanin colouration is of absent or very low extent and absent or very weak intensity for 'Calwhite'. In reaction to light, the tuber skin of 'Abalone' develops weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the tuber skin of 'Calwhite' develops medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, few root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low to medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium density of pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, intermediate between closed and open habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium density of pubescence

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

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: medium size outline, open, light green upper side, high extent and weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of upper side of midrib, weak presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: leaflet is medium size and narrower than long
LEAFLET: absent or very weak waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, dull upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: short oval to oval shape, cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, develops weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Abalone' (experimental designation 05-152) originated from a cross between the variety 'Goldstar', as the female parent, and the variety 'Valor', as the male parent, conducted in 2008, at the Jan Darwinkle Breeding Station in Langelo, Netherlands. From the resulting progeny, 'Abalone' was selected in 2014 based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistances.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial for 'Abalone' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. during the growing season of 2017 in Drummond, New Brunswick. There were 70 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. The trial consisted of a single, 21.2 metre long row with 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 'Abalone' with reference variety 'Calwhite'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Abalone' (left) with reference variety 'Calwhite' (right)