Annabelle

Potato

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold' and 'Amandine'

Summary: 'Annabelle' has a shorter plant height than 'Yukon Gold'. 'Annabelle' has smaller leaves than 'Yukon Gold'. The shape of the terminal leaflets of 'Annabelle' is medium ovate, whereas it is narrowly ovate to lanceolate for 'Yukon Gold'. The frequency of coalescence of the terminal and lateral leaflets is moderate to high in 'Annabelle' and absent to very low in the reference varieties. The corolla of 'Annabelle' has a white inner surface, whereas it is red-violet in the reference varieties. The base of the eye on the tubers of 'Annabelle' is yellow, whereas it is red for 'Yukon Gold'. The tubers of 'Annabelle' are elliptical in shape, while those of 'Yukon Gold' are oval to round. Light sprouts of 'Annabelle' are large with moderate pubescence at the base, whereas they are small with dense pubescence at the base for 'Yukon Gold'. 'Annabelle' has longer lateral shoots on the light sprout than the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, leaf type foliage structure

STEM: weak to moderate anthocyanin distributed evenly but more pronounced in bottom 3/4, thin main stem, moderate swelling of nodes

LEAF: light to medium green, intermediate silhouette, weak anthocyanin in rachis and petiole
TERMINAL LEAFLET: medium ovate, acute to acuminate tip, obtuse base, medium to high frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
LATERAL LEAFLETS: small to medium in size, narrowly ovate, acute to acuminate tip, obtuse to cordate base, moderately deep veins, weak waviness of margins, medium glossiness, no pubescence on blade (at apical rosette), moderate presence of secondary leaflets

INFLORESCENCE: small, low flowering profusion, buds weakly persistent, absent to weak anthocyanin in buds
COROLLA: medium in size, white, no anthocyanin on inner surface, moderately prominent star
PEDUNCLE: anthocyanin absent to very weak

TUBER: elliptical in shape, eyes flat and evenly distributed, eyebrows slightly prominent, medium yellow to dark yellow flesh with no secondary colour
SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, medium anthocyanin when exposed to light, smooth to rough texture

LIGHT SPROUT: large, ovoid, few root tips, long lateral roots
BASE: medium anthocyanin, absent or low proportion of blue, medium pubescence
TIP: equal in size to base, intermediate habit, weak anthocyanin, medium pubescence.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Annabelle' was selected from the F1 progeny of a cross between 'Nicola' and 'Monalisa' made in 1990 in Metslawier (The Netherlands). The variety was selected based on yield, quality, agronomic characters and resistance to pests. 'Nicola' originates from a cross between 'Clivia' and '6430 1011'.'Monalisa' originates from a cross between 'bierma a1 287' and 'Colmo'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Annabelle' were conducted in Drummond, New Brunswick in 2005. A block design was used with four replicates per variety. All entries were planted in single-row plots and each entry had one replicate per block. Plots consisted of rows 5.5 metres long and between row spacing of 91 cm. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the 1986 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Annabelle' with reference varieties 'Yukon Gold' and 'Amandine'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Annabelle' (center) with reference varieties 'Amandine' (left) and 'Yukon Gold' (right)