Alverstone Russet

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Russet Burbank'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout of 'Alverstone Russet' is strong with a high proportion of blue colouration whereas that of 'Russet Burbank' is of a weak to medium intensity with an absent or low proportion of blue colouration. The lightsprout tip for 'Alverstone Russet' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of 'Russet Burbank' has an absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The extent of anthocyanin colouration is medium to high on the stem for 'Alverstone Russet' whereas it is absent or very low for 'Russet Burbank'. The anthocyanin colouration on the upper side of the leaf midrib for 'Alverstone Russet' is of a low extent with a medium to high intensity while it is of an absent or very low extent with an absent or very weak intensity for 'Russet Burbank'. The leaflet of 'Alverstone Russet' has weak to medium waviness of margin and a medium to glossy upperside while the leaflet of 'Russet Burbank' has an absent or very weak waviness of margin and a dull to medium upperside. The plants of 'Alverstone Russet' are taller than those of 'Russet Burbank'. The plants of 'Alverstone Russet' have a high frequency of medium sized inflorescence while the plants of 'Russet Burbank' have a low frequency of small inflorescence. The inner side of the corolla for 'Alverstone Russet' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration with a medium to high proportion of blue, while the corolla for 'Russet Burbank' has a very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration with an absent or very low proportion of blue. The plants of 'Alverstone Russet' mature very late in the season while the plants of 'Russet Burbank' mature late in the season. The tuber of 'Alverstone Russet' is long-oval in shape with shallow eyes while that of 'Russet Burbank' is long with deep eyes.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium, spherical, many root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse to sparse pubescence

PLANT: foliage structure is leaf type where foliage is closed and stems are not or hardly visible, semi-upright growth habit, matures very late

STEM: medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: medium size outline, intermediate to open, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green upper side, low extent and medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of upper side of midrib, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak to medium waviness of margin, shallow veins, medium to glossy upper side, pubescence on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: long oval, cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: reddish brown

Origin & Breeding History: 'Alverstone Russet' (experimental designation HZD 07-289) resulted from the cross between CRE 98-200, as the female parent, and 'Innovator' as the male parent, conducted in 2006 at HZPC Research B.V., in Metslawier, The Netherlands. One of the progeny, designated HZD 07-289, was identified in 2007 and subsequently tested in The Netherlands and other locations abroad. Selection criteria was based on yield, internal and external qualities as well as disease and insect resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Alverstone Russet' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. during the 2018 growing season in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single, 21 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 'Alverstone Russet' with reference variety 'Russet Burbank'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Alverstone Russet' (left) with reference variety 'Russet Burbank' (right)