Lionheart

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Spunta'

Summary: The proportion of blue anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout of 'Lionheart' is low to medium whereas it is high for 'Spunta'. The plant foliage structure of 'Lionheart' is intermediate type with the foliage half open and stems partly visible whereas it is stem type with foliage open and stems clearly visible for 'Spunta'. The plants of 'Lionheart' are shorter than those of 'Spunta'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant of 'Lionheart' is absent or very low whereas the frequency of 'Spunta' is high. The base of the eye of the tuber of 'Lionheart' is red whereas it is yellow for 'Spunta'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, few root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, low to medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

PLANT: intermediate foliage structure where foliage is half open and stems are partly visible, upright to semi-upright growth habit, matures late season

STEM: low to medium extent of anthocyanin colouration located along the entire stem

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

INFLORESCENCE: absent or very low frequency per plant, flower buds drop readily
FLOWER BUD: low extent of anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval to long-oval, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow to medium depth, red at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, develops weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Lionheart' originated from a cross between the varieties 'Symfonia' and 'Victoria', conducted in 1998 at the Blairfield Farm in Scotland, as part of the Cygnet Potato Breeders Ltd. breeding program. From the resulting progeny, 'Lionheart' was selected in 2000 based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistances.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial for 'Lionheart' 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. 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 'Lionheart' with reference variety 'Spunta'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Lionheart' (left) with reference variety 'Spunta' (right)