Sunred

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Canberra'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Sunred' is medium to large with a medium number of root tips while that of 'Canberra' is small to medium in size with few root tips. The plants of 'Sunred' are taller than those of 'Canberra'. The plants of 'Sunred' have a medium to high frequency of flowers while the plants of 'Canberra' have a low frequency of flowers. The inner side of the corolla of 'Sunred' has a high intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of 'Canberra' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The tuber of 'Sunred' is short oval to oval with red at the base of the eye and light yellow flesh while the tuber of 'Canberra' is oval to long oval with yellow at the base of the eye and medium yellow flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium to large, ovoid, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: 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, sparse to medium density of pubescence

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

STEM: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: medium to large outline, openness is intermediate between closed and open, weak presence of secondary leaflets, dark green upper side, very high extent and 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 degree of waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium to glossy upper side, pubescence present on blade at apical rosette

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sunred' originated from a cross conducted between 'Rodeo', as the female parent, and 'Dakota Rose', as the male parent, at HZPC Research B.V. in Metslawier, Netherlands in 2003. 'Sunred' was selected from the F1 progeny in 2004 based on disease resistance, early tuberization and bulking, yield, and tuber shape stability.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Sunred' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. during the 2021 growing season in Central Blissville, New Brunswick. The field trial consisted of a single, 20 metre long row per variety. Each row contained 65 plants spaced 0.3 metres apart with inter-row spacing of 1.1 metres. Measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. The mean difference was significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. Lightsprout characteristics were assessed on 10 tubers harvested from the comparative trial and observed approximately 2.5 to 3 months after sprouting was promoted by exposing the tubers to an external agent.

Comparison table for 'Sunred' with reference variety 'Canberra'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Sunred' (left) with reference variety 'Canberra' (right)