Iposghred

Sweet Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red'

Summary: The plants of 'Iposghred' have a bushy-rounded growth habit while the plants of 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red' have a mounded-spreading growth habit. The plants of 'Iposghred' are narrower than the plants of 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red'. The plants of 'Iposghred' have dense branching while the plants of 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red' have sparse branching. The leaf blades of 'Iposghred' have no lobing while the leaf blades of 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red' have weak lobing. The petiole of 'Iposghred' is longer than the petiole of 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red'.

Description:

PLANT: bushy-rounded growth habit, dense branching
STEM: red-brown to purple, very strong anthocyanin colouration, absent or very weak glaucosity, absent or very sparse pubescence, medium to thick, smooth shape

LEAF: alternate arrangement, simple, cordate shape, acute to acuminate apex, cordate base, entire margin, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper and lower side, absent or very weak glaucosity on upper side, dark brown (RHS N186C) to brown purple (RHS 187A) on upper surface, brown purple (RHS 184A) on lower surface, no variegation
PETIOLE: very strong anthocyanin colouration.

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Iposghred' originated from a cross made in Lompoc, California, USA in 2006. The cross was between the varieties 'Sweet Caroline Purple' and 'Sweet Caroline Red'. The F1 population was viewed in the spring of 2007 and mass pollinated in the fall of 2007 to produce the F2 population. The variety 'Iposghpur' was selected from this population in April 2008 and underwent further vegetative trials throughout the summer of 2008. The initial selection criteria and objectives of the breeding program were to improve the horticultural performance of the red foliage types. Plant habit and branching ability were also used as selection criteria.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Iposghred' were conducted during the summer of 2010 in Oxford Station, Ontario. Twenty plants of each variety were grown in 15 cm pots in a polyhouse. Plants were spaced approximately 40 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken on 10 plants of each variety. Colours were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Iposghred' with reference variety 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red'

Plant width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of leaf blade (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Sweet Potato: 'Iposghred' (left) with reference variety 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red' (right)