AAC Shirley

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Chieftain', 'Norland' and 'AAC Boreal'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'AAC Shirley' is medium sized whereas it is small for 'Chieftain'. The lightsprout of 'AAC Shirley' is ovoid in shape whereas it is broad cylindrical for 'Norland' and conical for 'AAC Boreal'. The base of the lightsprout for 'AAC Shirley' has a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of 'Chieftain' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The base of the lightsprout for 'AAC Shirley' has a medium density of pubescence while that of 'Norland' has dense pubescence. The lightsprout tip for 'AAC Shirley' has an open habit while that of 'ACC Boreal' has a closed habit. The lightsprout of 'AAC Shirley' has a medium number of root tips while those of the reference varieties have many root tips. The plants of 'AAC Shirley' have a spreading growth habit while the plants of 'Chieftain' have a semi-upright growth habit. The stem of 'AAC Shirley' has a medium extent of anthocyanin colouration while the extent is low for 'Norland' and 'AAC Boreal'. The leaf of 'AAC Shirley' has a medium sized outline whereas that of 'Norland' and 'AAC Boreal' have a large outline. The upper side of the leaf of 'AAC Shirley' is medium green whereas it is dark green for 'Chieftain' and 'Norland' and light green for 'AAC Boreal'. The plants of 'AAC Shirley' are shorter than those of 'Chieftain' and 'Norland' and taller than those of 'AAC Boreal'. The plants of 'AAC Shirley' have a low frequency of inflorescences while those of 'Chieftain' have a high frequency of inflorescences and those of 'Norland' a medium frequency. The inflorescence of 'AAC Shirley' is large while those of the reference varieties are medium sized. The corolla for 'AAC Shirley' is medium sized while it is large for 'Chieftain' and small for 'AAC Boreal'. The plants of 'AAC Shirley' mature mid-season while those of 'Norland' mature early in the season. The tuber flesh for 'AAC Shirley' is light yellow while it is white for the reference varieties.

Description:

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

PLANT: foliage structure is leaf type where foliage is closed and stems are not or hardly visible, spreading growth habit, matures mid-season

STEM: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: medium sized outline, intermediate openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium green upper side, medium 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: medium degree of waviness of margin, medium depth of veins

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Shirley' (experimental designations AR2014-04 and CV05239-1) originated from a cross made between the experimental lines CO00279-2R/Y and ATC98509-1R/Y conducted at the Colorado State University San Luis Valley Research Centre, in Center, Colorado, USA, in 2005. In 2007, the true potato seed resulting from the cross was sown in a greenhouse at Colorado State University and the resulting seedling tubers planted at the Vauxhall Research Substation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 2008. A clone designated as CV05239-1 was selected in 2008 from a single hill trial based on vine maturity, tuber appearance, shape, size, skin colour and flesh colour.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'AAC Shirley' was conducted during the 2019 growing season at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Fredericton Research and Development Centre, in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of 2 replicates per variety arranged in a RCB design. Each replicate consisted of 40 plants in a 12 metre length row. The rows were spaced 90 centimetres apart and the plants were spaced 25 centimetres apart within the row. 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 'AAC Shirley' with reference varieties 'Chieftain', 'Norland' and 'AAC Boreal'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'AAC Shirley' (centre right) with reference varieties 'AAC Boreal' (left), 'Norland' (centre left) and 'Chieftain' (right)

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Potato: 'AAC Shirley' (centre) with reference varieties 'Norland' (left) and 'Chieftain' (right)

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Potato: 'AAC Shirley' (top left) with reference varieties 'Chieftain' (top right), 'Norland' (bottom right) and 'AAC Boreal' (bottom left)