NCORNSP-020BWAM

Sweet Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' and 'NCORNSP-020BWGWE'

Summary: The stem of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' is thick whereas the stem of 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' is thin to medium thick. The colour of the stem of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' is brown purple whereas the stem of 'NCORNSP-020WGWE' is light green. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration of the stem of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' is strong whereas the intensity is absent or weak for 'NCORNSP-020WGWE'. The leaf blade of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' is wider than the leaf blade of 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black'. The depth of the sinus between lobes of the leaf blade is medium deep for 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' whereas the depth of the sinus (when present) is shallow for 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' and the leaf blade of 'NCORNSP-020WGWE' has no lobing. The leaf blade of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' has a medium degree of rugosity whereas the leaf blade of 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' has a very weak degree of rugosity. When fully developed and excluding the anthocyanin colouration, the upper side of the leaf blade of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' is black, but more gray and duller, whereas the upper side of the leaf blade of 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' is dark brown, but greener, and the leaf blade of 'NCORNSP-020WGWE' is yellow green. When fully developed, the lower side of the leaf blade of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' is black, but more purple, whereas the lower side of the leaf blade of 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' is black, but more gray and duller, and the leaf blade of 'NCORNSP-020WGWE' is brown green.

Description:

PLANT: growth habit is initially semi-upright becoming spreading with age, strong degree of branching

STEM: brown purple (RHS 187A), thick, large diameter of internode, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tip, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of node, absent or sparse pubescence of tip

PETIOLE: strong intensity of brown purple (RHS N186C) anthocyanin colouration
YOUNG LEAF BLADE: dark green (RHS 144A) on upper side
LEAF BLADE: triangular shape, lobed, medium to deep sinus between lobes, medium degree of rugosity, black (more gray and duller than RHS 202A) upper side (excluding anthocyanin colouration), black (more purple than N187A) lower side, strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration of upper side, very strong intensity and very large extent of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of abaxial veins

INFLORESCENCE: few
UPPER COROLLA LOBE: light blue violet (76B-C) inner side

Origin & Breeding History: 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' was bred and developed by the breeders, Dr. G. Craig Yencho, Meri K. Reeber, and Dr. Kenneth V. Pecota, all employees of North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It originated from a self-compatible cross of the proprietary breeding line designated 'NC7218-004ORN', which was used as both the female and male parent. This cross was part of a winter greenhouse crossing block that occurred between September 2011 and March 2012 at the Horticultural Field Lab Greenhouses in Raleigh, North Carolina. The resultant seeds were sown and the seedlings were transplanted to 15 cm pots. Vegetative cuttings of the seedlings were taken for propagation in April 2012. The resultant plants were planted in the field in a two plant unreplicated plot in June 2012. 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' was selected on July 30, 2012, at the Horticultural Crops Research Station, in Clinton, North Carolina, for its plant growth habit, plant vigour, leaf shape, leaf colour, and leaf margin dentation.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2017 at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference variety. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 15 cm pots on April 18, 2017. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or 10 parts of plants of each variety on June 8, 2017. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' with reference varieties 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' and 'NCORNSP-020BWGWE'

Colour of stem (RHS)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Colour of leaf blade when fully developed (excluding anthocyanin colouration) (RHS)

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Sweet Potato: 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' (left) with reference varieties 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' (centre) and 'NCORNSP-020BWGWE' (right)

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Sweet Potato: 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' (left) with reference varieties 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' (centre) and 'NCORNSP-020BWGWE' (right)

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Sweet Potato: 'NCORNSP-020BWAM' (left) with reference varieties 'Bright Ideas Cordate Black' (centre) and 'NCORNSP-020BWGWE' (right)