Constance

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The proportion of blue anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout of 'Constance' is medium whereas it is absent or low for 'Yukon Gold'. There is no anthocyanin colouration of the stem of 'Constance' whereas it is of low extent located along the entire stem of 'Yukon Gold'. The leaves of 'Constance' are dark green with a medium waviness of the margin whereas those of 'Yukon Gold' are light green with no waviness of the margin. The plants of 'Constance' are shorter than those of 'Yukon Gold'. The anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the flower corolla of 'Constance' is of absent or very weak intensity and absent or very low extent whereas it is of medium intensity with a high extent for 'Yukon Gold'. The base of the eye of the tubers of 'Constance' is yellow whereas it is red for 'Yukon Gold'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, few to medium number of root tips, medium length lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: medium to 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, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium to dense pubescence

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

STEM: no anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium size outline, openness is intermediate between closed and open, medium presence of secondary leaflets, dark green, low extent and 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: medium size, narrower than long
LEAFLET: medium waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, dull upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'Constance' (experimental designation SA 02-0020) originated from a cross between the variety 'Marabel', as the female parent, and the selection 'AR 93-1243', as the male parent, at the J.L. Sprijkman & J.M. Spijkman - Vergeer Breeding Station in Hijken, Netherlands. From the resulting progeny, 'Constance' was selected in 2003 based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistances.

Tests & Trials: The comparative test and trial for 'Constance' 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 'Constance' with reference variety 'Yukon Gold'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Constance' (left) with reference variety 'Yukon Gold' (right)