Yukon Nugget

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The base of the lightsprout of 'Yukon Nugget' has very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the base of the lightsprout of 'Yukon Gold' has strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The tip of the lightsprout of 'Yukon Nugget' has an intermediate habit with medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the tip of the lightsprout of 'Yukon Gold' has a closed habit with weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The lightsprout of 'Yukon Nugget' has a medium number of root tips whereas the lightsprout of 'Yukon Gold' has few root tips. The plants of 'Yukon Nugget' are shorter than the plants of 'Yukon Gold'. The growth habit of the plants of 'Yukon Nugget' is semi-upright to spreading whereas the growth habit of 'Yukon Gold' is upright. The openness of the leaf of 'Yukon Nugget' is a closed to intermediate whereas the leaf of 'Yukon Gold' is open. The upper side of the leaf of 'Yukon Nugget' is medium green with a medium degree of glossiness whereas the leaf blade of 'Yukon Gold' is light green with weak glossiness. The frequency of inflorescences per plant is high for 'Yukon Nugget' whereas the frequency is low to medium for 'Yukon Gold'. The anthocyanin colouration on the inner side of the corolla is of strong intensity and very high extent for 'Yukon Nugget' whereas the anthocyanin colouration is of medium intensity and high extent for 'Yukon Gold'.

Description:

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

PLANT: foliage structure is leaf type where foliage is closed and stems are not or hardly visible, semi-upright to spreading growth habit, mid-season maturity

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

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

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

TUBER: round to short oval shape, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: medium depth, red at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, develops medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Yukon Nugget' (experimental designation POR02PG37-2) originated from a cross between the selection 'PA99P35-1', as the female parent, and the variety 'Rose Gold', as the male parent. The cross was conducted in 2001 as part of Dr. Charles Brown's breeding program at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service in Prosser, Washington, USA. From the resulting progeny, 'Yukon Nugget' was selected in 2003, in Madras, Oregon, USA, based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistances.

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

Plant height (cm)

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