Tessa

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold' and 'Gourmetessa'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Tessa' is medium sized whereas the lightsprout of 'Gourmetessa' is small. The lightsprout of 'Tessa' has an ovoid shape whereas it is spherical for 'Yukon Gold'. The anthocyanin colouration on the stem is of medium extent for 'Tessa' whereas it is an absent or very low extent for 'Gourmetessa'. The leaf outline of 'Tessa' is medium sized whereas it is large for 'Yukon Gold'. 'Tessa' has a medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along the midrib of the upper side of the leaf whereas it is absent or very low on 'Gourmetessa'. The plants of 'Tessa' are shorter than those of 'Yukon Gold' and taller than those of 'Gourmetessa'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant is high for 'Tessa' whereas the frequency is absent or very low to low for 'Yukon Gold' and medium for 'Gourmetessa'. On the inner side of the corolla, the extent of anthocyanin colouration is medium to high for 'Tessa' whereas it is absent or very low for 'Gourmetessa'. The tuber of 'Tessa' has a long oval shape whereas the tuber of 'Yukon Gold' is round. The eyes of the tuber of 'Tessa' are very shallow whereas they are at a medium depth for 'Yukon Gold' and shallow for 'Gourmetessa'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid, few root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

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

STEM: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

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

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

TUBER: long oval, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: very 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: 'Tessa' (experimental designation 787 206-04) originated from the cross between 'Carmona', as the female parent, and 'Diplomat', as the male parent, conducted at the NORIKA, Nordring -Kartoffelzucht- und Vermehrungs- GmbH breeding station in Sanitz, Germany in 2003. In 2004, the true potato seed resulting from the cross was sown in a greenhouse and the resulting seedling tubers field planted in Gross Luesewitz, Germany. One of the progeny, designated as 787 206-04 was identified in 2005. Selection criteria was based on negative mass selection for agronomic characteristics and disease resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Tessa' 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 'Tessa' with reference varieties 'Yukon Gold' and 'Gourmetessa'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Tessa' (left) with reference varieties 'Yukon Gold' (centre) and 'Gourmetessa' (right)