Eileen

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Cecile' and 'Carminelle'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Eileen' is ovoid in shape whereas that of 'Cecile' is broad cylindrical. The base of the lightsprout for 'Eileen' has a medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration whereas those of the reference varieties have an absent or low proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration. The lightsprout tip for 'Eileen' has a closed habit whereas that of 'Cecile' has an intermediate habit. The lightsprout tip for 'Eileen' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas that of 'Carminelle' has an absent or very weak to weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The stem of 'Eileen' has a high to very high extent of anthocyanin colouration while the stem of 'Cecile' has a medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration. The plants of 'Eileen' are shorter than the plants of 'Cecile' and taller than the plants of 'Carminelle'.

Description:

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

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

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

LEAF: medium sized outline, intermediate openness to open, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, dark green upper side, very high extent and medium to strong 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: medium sized, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: absent or very weak to 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: high extent of anthocyanin colouration
INFLORESCENCE: low to medium frequency per plant, small to medium sized
FLOWER BUD: absent or very low to low extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium sized
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): high to very high extent and strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval to long oval, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: very shallow to shallow, red at base
TUBER SKIN: red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Eileen' originated from a cross between 'Cecile', as the female parent, and 'Gourmandine', as the male parent, conducted in 2005 at the HZPC Research B.V. in Metslawier, Netherlands. 'Eileen' was selected from the resulting F1 in 2006, based on yield, internal and external tuber quality, and disease resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Eileen' 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 inter row spacing of 0.9 metres. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. The mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Eileen' with reference varieties 'Cecile' and 'Carminelle'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Eileen' (right) with reference varieties 'Carminelle' (left) and 'Cecile' (centre)