AAC Midnight

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'AAC Blue Sapphire'

Summary: The base of the lightsprout of 'AAC Midnight' has medium to dense pubescence while that of 'AAC Sapphire' has sparse pubescence. The lightsprout tip of 'AAC Midnight' has medium to dense pubescence while that of 'AAC Sapphire' has sparse pubescence. The leaf of 'AAC Midnight' is intermediate to open with a weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets while the leaf of 'AAC Sapphire' is closed with a strong presence of secondary leaflets. The plants of 'AAC Midnight' mature mid-season while those of 'AAC Sapphire' mature late in the season. The tuber of 'AAC Midnight' is round while that of 'AAC Sapphire' is long oval.

Description:

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

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

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire stem

LEAF: small to medium sized outline, intermediate to open, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, dark green upper side, high extent of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, 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: small to medium size, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: medium to strong degree of waviness of margin, medium to deep veins

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

TUBER: round, blue parti-colour flesh
TUBER EYE: medium depth, blue at base
TUBER SKIN: blue

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Midnight' (experimental designations AR2018-15 and F13085) originated from a cross conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 2011. The cross was made between the varieties 'Congo', as the female parent, and 'F02041', as the male parent. The true potato seed from the cross was sown in the greenhouse in 2012 and the resulting seedling tubers were planted at the Benton Research Substation in Benton, New Brunswick in 2013 for selection and evaluation. 'AAC Midnight' was selected from this trial in 2013 based on vine maturity; tuber number, shape, size, skin colour, flesh colour and tuber set.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'AAC Midnight' 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.

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Potato: 'AAC Midnight' (left) with reference variety 'AAC Blue Sapphire' (right)

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Potato: 'AAC Midnight' (left) with reference variety 'AAC Blue Sapphire' (right)