VSP001

Sweet Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Covington'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the tip of the stem is absent or weak for 'VSP001' whereas the intensity is medium for 'Covington'. The pubescence of the tip of the stem of 'VSP001' is absent or sparse whereas the pubescence of the tip of the stem of 'Covington' is dense. The main colour on the upper side of the young leaf blade is light green for 'VSP001' whereas the upper side of the young leaf blade of 'Covington' is purplish brown. Excluding anthocyanin colouration, the upper side of the leaf blade of 'VSP001' is yellow green whereas the leaf blade of 'Covington' is green. The length to width ratio of the storage root of 'VSP001' is medium whereas the length to width ratio of the storage root of 'Covington' is moderately elongated. Relative to the overall diameter of the storage root, the cortex of 'VSP001' is thin whereas the cortex of 'Covington' is thick. The skin of the storage root of 'VSP001' is mainly pink with red secondary colour whereas the skin of the storage root of 'Covington' is mainly light beige with pink secondary colour. The flesh of the storage root of 'VSP001' is mainly dark orange with orange secondary colour whereas the flesh of the storage root of 'Covington' is mainly light orange with yellow secondary colour.

Description:

PLANT: spreading growth habit

STEM: primary shoots are long, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tip, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of node, absent or sparse pubescence of tip
STEM INTERNODE: medium length, large diameter, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

PETIOLE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, very long
YOUNG LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): light green
LEAF BLADE: three lobes, moderately deep sinus between lobes
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): yellow green excluding anthocyanin colouration, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, small extent and weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on abaxial veins

STORAGE ROOT: elliptic shape, length to width ratio is medium, thin cortex relative to overall diameter, shallow eyes
STORAGE ROOT SKIN: mainly pink with red secondary colour
STORAGE ROOT FLESH: mainly dark orange with orange secondary colour

Origin & Breeding History: 'VSP001' originated from a cross conducted by Don LaBonte in 2012, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, in an open-pollinated polycross nursery containing 12 lines. The cross from which 'VSP001' originated was between the selection designated 'LA07-190', as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, approximately 250 seedlings were planted in a greenhouse in 2012 at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre facilities in Vineland, Ontario. A cutting from each seedling was transplanted to the field and evaluated at harvest for flesh colour, and root shape and consistency. In 2012, 'VSP001' was selected by Valerio Primomo for its deep orange flesh colour, high quality storage root shape and storage root shape consistency. During the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons, 'VSP001' was planted at five locations in Ontario to assess the quality of its storage root production.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'VSP001' was conducted as an outdoor trial during the summer of 2017 at Vineland Research and Innovations Centre, Inc. in Vineland, Ontario. The trial included 75 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. The plants were grown from un-rooted cuttings that were transplanted in hills on June 1, 2017. The hills were 1.5 m apart and spaced 12 cm within rows. On October 3, 2017, the observations and measurements on single plants were made on 30 plants and any other observations were made on all plants in the trial.

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Sweet Potato: 'VSP001' (right) with reference variety 'Covington' (left)

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Sweet Potato: 'VSP001'

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Sweet Potato: Reference variety 'Covington'