AAC Santa Margarita

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Chieftain' and 'Norland'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'AAC Santa Margarita' is ovoid in shape while the lightsprout of 'Chieftain' is spherical. The base of the lightsprout of 'AAC Santa Margarita' has dense pubescence while that of 'Norland' has sparse pubescence. The plants of 'AAC Santa Margarita' have a high frequency of flowers while those of 'Norland' have a low frequency of flowers. The plants of 'AAC Santa Margarita' are shorter than those of 'Chieftain'. The tuber of 'AAC Santa Margarita' has light yellow flesh while those of the reference varieties have white flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium size, ovoid, medium number of root tips, medium length lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small to medium sized in relation to base, intermediate habit, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence

PLANT: intermediate type foliage structure where foliage is half open and stems are partly visible, semi-upright to spreading growth habit, high frequency of flowers, matures mid to late season

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

LEAF: medium sized outline, closed, medium to strong presence of secondary leaflets, medium to dark green upper side, medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, 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 to large, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: medium to strong degree of waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins

PEDUNCLE: low to medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
INFLORESCENCE: medium sized
FLOWER BUD: low extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium sized
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): medium to high intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium extent of anthocyanin colouration

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Santa Margarita' (experimental designations AR2014-05 and CV07366-2) originated from a cross conducted at Colorado State University San Luis Valley Research Farm in Center, Colorado, USA in 2007. The cross was made between the varieties 'US147-96', as the female parent, and 'CO00277-2R', as the male parent. The true potato seed from the cross was sown in the greenhouse at Colorado State University in 2008 and the resulting seedling tubers were transferred and assigned to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. The tubers were planted at the Vauxhall Research Substation in Vauxhall, Alberta in 2009 for selection and evaluation. 'AAC Santa Margarita' was selected from this trial in 2009 based on vine maturity; tuber appearance, shape, size, skin colour and flesh colour.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'AAC Santa Margarita' was conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Fredericton Research and Development Centre, in Fredericton, New Brunswick during the 2022 growing season. The field trial consisted of 2 replicates per variety, arranged in an RCB design. Each replicate was a 12 metre long row containing 40 plants spaced 0.25 metres apart with a 0.9 metre inter-row spacing. Measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of 10 plants, of each variety. The mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. Lightsprout characteristics were assessed on 6 tubers harvested from the comparative trial and observed approximately five months after harvest following normal dormancy breakage.

Comparison table for 'AAC Santa Margarita' with reference varieties 'Chieftain' and 'Norland'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'AAC Santa Margarita' (top) with reference varieties 'Chieftain' (center top) and 'Norland' (center bottom)

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Potato: 'AAC Santa Margarita' (left) with reference varieties 'Chieftain' (center right) and 'Norland' (center left)