Monica Russet

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Innovator' and 'River Russet'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Monica Russet' is broad cylindrical in shape while that of 'River Russet' is ovoid. The base of the lightsprout of 'Monica Russet' has dense pubescence while that of 'River Russet' has a medium density of pubescence. The lightsprout tip of 'Monica Russet' has sparse pubescence while the light sprout tip of 'Innovator' has a medium density of pubescence and that of 'River Russet' has medium to dense pubescence. The stem of 'Monica Russet' has an absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire stem while that of 'River Russet' has a low extent of anthocyanin colouration at the base. The second pair of lateral leafets of 'Monica Russet' are medium in size while those of the reference varieties are large. The plants of 'Monica Russet' are shorter than those of 'Innovator'. The plants of 'Monica Russet' have a high frequency of flowers while the plants of 'River Russet' have a low frequency of flowers. The tuber of 'Monica Russet' has white flesh while the tuber of 'Innovator' has light yellow flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium sized, broad cylindrical, medium number of root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: small in relation to base, closed habit, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

PLANT: leaf type foliage structure where foliage is closed and stems are not or hardly visible, semi-upright growth habit, high frequency of flowers, matures mid-season

STEM: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium sized outline, intermediate openness, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, light green upper side, absent or very low extent of absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium sized, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak to medium degree of waviness of margin, shallow veins, dull to medium glossiness on upper side, pubescence absent on blade at apical rosette

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

TUBER: long, white flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: reddish brown

Origin & Breeding History: 'Monica Russet' was developed from a natural variant of the variety 'Innovator' discovered in New Brunswick, Canada in 2012. Seed resulting from the variant underwent further trials and the variety was designated 'Monica Russet' based on tuber shape, flesh colour, yield and processing characteristics.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Monica Russet' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. in Central Blissville, New Brunswick during the 2021 growing season. 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 'Monica Russet' with reference varieties 'Innovator' and 'River Russet'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Monica Russet' (left) with reference varieties 'Innovator' (centre) and 'River Russet' (right)