Althea

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Russet Burbank'

Summary: The base of the lightsprout for 'Althea' has a medium density of pubescence while that of 'Russet Burbank' has dense pubescence. The location of the anthocyanin colouration is halfway up the stem for 'Althea' whereas it is along the entire stem for 'Russet Burbank'. The leaf of 'Althea' has a medium sized outline while that of 'Russet Burbank' has a large outline. The second pair of lateral leaflets for 'Althea' are medium sized while they are large for 'Russet Burbank'. The flower bud of 'Althea' has an absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration while that of 'Russet Burbank' has a medium extent of anthocyanin colouration. The tuber of 'Althea' is oval to long oval in shape with shallow eyes while that of 'Russet Burbank' is long oval to long in shape with deep eyes.

Description:

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

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

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration halfway up stem

LEAF: medium sized outline, open, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green upper side, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak 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 degree of waviness of margin, shallow veins, dull on upper side, pubescence present on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: oval to long oval, cream coloured flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: reddish brown

Origin & Breeding History: 'Althea' originated from the cross between HEO 98-1620, as the female parent, and HEO 96-176, as the male parent, conducted in Metslawier, The Netherlands, in 2006. 'Althea' was selected from the resulting F1 in 2007, based on yield, internal and external tuber quality, disease and pest resistance.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Althea' 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 an inter-row spacing of 0.9 metres.

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Potato: 'Althea' (left) with reference variety 'Russet Burbank' (right)