Imagine

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Merlin'

Summary: The base of the lightsprout of 'Imagine' has a very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration with a high proportion of blue whereas that of 'Merlin' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration with an absent or low proportion of blue. The base of the lightsprout for 'Imagine' has sparse pubescence whereas that of 'Merlin' has dense pubescence. The lightsprout tip of 'Imagine' has an intermediate to open habit whereas that of 'Merlin' has a closed habit. The plants of 'Imagine' have a semi-upright to spreading growth habit whereas the plants of 'Merlin' have an upright growth habit. The flower bud of 'Imagine' has a low extent of anthocyanin colouration whereas the flower bud of 'Merlin' has a high extent of anthocyanin colouration. The inner side of the corolla of 'Imagine' has an absent or very low intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of 'Merlin' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The tuber of 'Imagine' is short oval to oval in shape with medium yellow flesh whereas the tuber of 'Merlin' is round with cream coloured flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium sized, ovoid, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, intermediate to open habit, very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium density of pubescence

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

STEM: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium to large outline, intermediate openness to open, medium to strong presence of secondary leaflets, medium green upper side, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak 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: large, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak degree of waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins, dull to medium glossiness on upper side, pubescence absent on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: short oval to oval, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow to medium depth, blue at base
TUBER SKIN: blue-parti coloured, absent or very weak to weak anthocyanin colouration of skin in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Imagine' originated from a cross between 'Cara', as the female parent, and 'Orla', as the male parent, conducted in 2003 at Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland. In 2004, the seed resulting from the cross was sown in the greenhouse. The resulting tubers were harvested and planted in the field in 2005 in Carlow, Ireland. 'Imagine' was selected in 2005 based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Imagine' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. during the 2019 growing season in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single, 21 metre long row per variety. Each row contained 70 plants spaced 0.3 metres apart with an inter-row spacing of 0.9 metres.

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Potato: 'Imagine' (left) with reference variety 'Merlin' (right)