Floridana

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Merida'

Summary: The lightsprout tip of ‘Floridana' has absent or very sparse pubescence while that of ‘Merida' has sparse pubescence. The plants of ‘Floridana' have an intermediate type foliage structure, where the foliage is half open and the stems are partly visible, while those of ‘Merida' have a leaf type foliage structure, where the foliage is closed and the stems are not, or hardly, visible. The plants of ‘Floridana' have a spreading growth habit whereas those of ‘Merida' have a semi-upright growth habit. The plants of ‘Floridana' have a medium frequency of flowers while those of ‘Merida' have an absent or very low to low frequency of flowers. The corolla of ‘Floridana' is medium sized while the corolla of ‘Merida' is small. The plants of ‘Floridana' mature late season while those of ‘Merida' mature mid-season. The tuber of ‘Floridana' has light yellow flesh while that of ‘Merida' has medium yellow flesh.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: small, spherical, few root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium sized in relation to base, closed habit, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or very sparse pubescence

PLANT: foliage structure is intermediate type where foliage is half open and stems are partly visible, spreading growth habit, matures late season

STEM: absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium sized outline, intermediate to open, weak presence of secondary leaflets, medium green upper side, absent or very low extent of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, absent or very weak 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: absent or very weak to weak degree of waviness of margin, shallow to medium depth of veins, dull upper side

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

TUBER: short oval to oval, light yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow to medium depth, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: yellow, weak anthocyanin colouration of skin in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: ‘Floridana' originated from the cross between the varieties ‘Merida' and ‘B 98/258/189', conducted in Ebstorf, Germany in 2003. Final selection was made in Ebstorf, Germany, in 2009, based on positive agronomic criteria including disease resistance and culinary traits.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for ‘Floridana' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. in Central Blissville, New Brunswick during the 2022 growing season. The field trial consisted of a single, 22 metre long row per variety. Each row contained 70 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.

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Potato: 'Floridana' (left) with reference variety 'Merida' (right)