Alliston

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Belle d'août', 'Superior', 'Envol' and 'AC Chaleur'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Alliston' has medium to many roots whereas the lightsprouts of 'Belle d'août', 'Superior' and 'AC Chaleur' have few roots. The pubescence at the base of the lightsprout of 'Alliston' is dense to very dense whereas it is absent or very sparse for 'Superior', absent or very sparse to sparse for 'Belle d'août' and sparse for 'Envol'. The pubescence at the tip of the lightsprout of 'Alliston' is dense whereas it is absent or very sparse for 'Belle d'août' and 'AC Chaleur', medium density for 'Superior' and very dense for 'Envol'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration at the tip of the lightsprout of 'Alliston' is absent or very weak whereas it is weak for 'Belle d'août', of medium intensity for 'Superior' and strong to very strong for 'Envol'. The plants of 'Alliston' have an spreading growth habit whereas those of 'Envol' have an upright growth habit, and those of 'AC Chaleur', a semi-upright growth habit. The plants of 'Alliston' are shorter than those of 'Belle d'août', 'Superior' and 'Envol'. The frequency of inflorescences per plant is low for 'Alliston' whereas the frequency is medium for 'Belle d'août', 'Envol' and 'AC Chaleur' and high to very high for 'Superior'. The inflorescence of 'Alliston' is small whereas they are medium sized for 'Belle d'août', 'Superior' and 'AC Chaleur' and medium to large for 'Envol'. The tuber of 'Alliston' has an oval shape whereas the tubers of 'Belle d'août', 'Superior' and 'AC Chaleur' have a short oval shape.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: ovoid, medium to many root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, dense to very dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, intermediate habit, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

PLANT: intermediate to leaf type foliage structure where foliage is half open to closed with stems partly to hardly visible, spreading growth habit, matures very early to early

STEM: medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration at base only

LEAF: medium size outline, open, medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green upper side, absent or 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: small to medium size, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: absent or very weak to weak waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium to glossy upper side

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): absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval, cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: very shallow depth, white at base
TUBER SKIN: light beige

Origin & Breeding History: 'Alliston' (experimental designation AG704.10) originated from the cross between 'AM-66-42', as the female parent, and 'AC Chaleur', as the male parent, conducted at Progest 2001, in Saint-Croix, Quebec in 2006. Subsequent generations were vegetatively multiplied and assessed in both greenhouse and field trials for the following 6 years resulting in the identification of AG704.10. Selections were based on yield, uniformity, appearance, heat tolerance and resistance to common scab.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Alliston' was conducted during the 2018 growing season at Ste-Croix de Lotbinière, Quebec. The trial consisted of 5 replicates, a total of 85 plants per variety, grown in 5 metre length rows spaced 90.5 centimetres apart. The plants were spaced 30 centimetres apart within the row. The measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Alliston' with reference varieties 'Belle d'août', 'Superior', 'Envol' and 'AC Chaleur'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Alliston' (furthest left) with reference varieties 'Superior' (second from left), 'Envol' (centre), 'Belle d'août' (second from right) and 'AC Chaleur' (right)

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Potato: 'Alliston' (left) with reference varieties 'AC Chaleur' (centre) and 'Envol' (right)

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Potato: 'Alliston' (left) with reference varieties 'Belle d'août' (centre) and 'Superior' (right)