Prairie Sun

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Smart', 'Morning Pearl' and 'Harvest Moon'

Summary: The anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout is of medium intensity for 'Prairie Sun' whereas it is strong to very strong on 'Smart' and strong on 'Morning Pearl'. The proportion of blue anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout of 'Prairie Sun' is medium whereas it is high for 'Smart' and it is absent or low for 'Morning Pearl' and 'Harvest Moon'. In relation to the base of the lightsprout, the tip is small for 'Prairie Sun' whereas it is medium sized for 'Morning Pearl' and 'Harvest Moon'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the tip of the lightsprout of 'Prairie Sun' is medium whereas it is strong for 'Smart'. The lightsprout of 'Prairie Sun' has a few root tips whereas 'Smart' and 'Harvest Moon' have a medium number of root tips. The plants of 'Prairie Sun' have a semi-upright growth habit whereas the plants of 'Harvest Moon' have a spreading growth habit. The plants of 'Prairie Sun' are shorter than those of 'Smart' and taller than those of 'Morning Pearl'. On the inner side of the corolla, the anthocyanin colouration for 'Prairie Sun' is of medium to high extent with medium intensity whereas the extent is absent or very low with absent or very weak intensity for 'Smart'. The tuber flesh of 'Prairie Sun' is 'light yellow' whereas it is medium yellow for 'Smart' and white for both 'Morning Pearl' and 'Harvest Moon'.

Description:

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

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

STEM: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium size outline, closed to intermediate openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green upper side, absent or very low extent and absent and very weak 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 slightly narrower than long
LEAFLET: medium waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins, dull to medium glossiness on upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: round to short oval, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: 'Prairie Sun' (experimental designation 'TT-08-024/2010-06') originated from a cross between 'Baby Boomer', as the female parent, and 'Piccolo', as the male parent, conducted in 2008 at the Tuberosum Technologies Inc. breeding station in Broderick, Saskatchewan. In 2010, the seed resulting from the cross was seeded and transplanted in a field in Broderick, Saskatchewan. One of the progeny, designated as 'TT-08-024/2010-06', was identified in 2010. Selection criteria was based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Prairie Sun' 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 'Prairie Sun' with reference varieties 'Smart', 'Morning Pearl' and 'Harvest Moon'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Prairie Sun' (left) with the reference varieties 'Smart' (centre left), 'Morning Pearl' (centre right) and 'Harvest Moon' (right)