AAC Mulberry

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Brigus'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'AAC Mulberry' is small and spherical in shape while that of 'Brigus' is medium in size and ovoid. The base of the lightsprout of 'AAC Mulberry' has medium to dense pubescence while that of 'Brigus' has absent or very sparse to sparse pubescence. The plants of 'AAC Mulberry' are taller than those of 'Brigus'. The plants of 'AAC Mulberry' have a medium frequency of flowers while those of 'Brigus' have a high frequency of flowers. The tuber of 'AAC Mulberry' is oval with white flesh while that of 'Brigus' is round to short oval with light yellow flesh.

Description:

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

PLANT: foliage structure is intermediate type to leaf type where foliage is half open to closed and stems are partly to hardly visible, semi-upright growth habit, medium frequency of flowers, matures late to very late in the season

STEM: high extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire stem

LEAF: medium sized outline, open openness, medium presence of secondary leaflets, dark green upper side, very high extent of strong intensity anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, absent or very low to 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 veins, dull upper side, pubescence absent on blade of apical rosette

PEDUNCLE: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
INFLORESCENCE: small
FLOWER BUD: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium sized
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): very high intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, very high extent of anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval, white flesh
TUBER EYE: medium depth, blue at base
TUBER SKIN: blue

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Mulberry' (experimental designations AR2018-12 and F13051) originated from a cross between the varieties 'Brigus' and 'Redsen' conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Fredericton Research and Development Centre, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 2011. A clone was selected in 2013 from a single hill trial grown at the Benton Ridge Breeding Substation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada near Fredericton, New Brunswick based on vine maturity, tuber number, tuber appearance, tuber shape, tuber size, skin and flesh colour and was released to industry for evaluation as AR2018-12 in 2018 as part of the Accelerated Release of AAC potato selections.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'AAC Mulberry' was conducted by Global Agri Services Inc. in Central Blissville, New Brunswick during the 2023 growing season. The field trial consisted of a single 15.2 metre long row per variety. Rows were spaced 1.1 metres apart with each row containing 65 plants spaced 0.23 metres apart. 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 'AAC Mulberry' with reference variety 'Brigus'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'AAC Mulberry' (left) with reference variety 'Brigus' (right)

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Potato: 'AAC Mulberry' (left) with reference variety 'Brigus' (right)

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Potato: 'AAC Mulberry' (left) with reference variety 'Brigus' (right)