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Avalanche

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Calwhite'

Summary: 'Avalanche' has a shorter plant height, thinner main stems and shorter narrower leaves than 'Calwhite'. The margins of the terminal and lateral leaflets of 'Avalanche' have a medium to strong waviness, whereas those of 'Calwhite' have weak waviness. The flower buds of 'Avalanche' are less persistent than those of 'Calwhite'. The inner surface of the corolla of 'Avalanche' is red-violet, whereas it is white for 'Calwhite'. The main colour of the tuber flesh of 'Avalanche' is cream, whereas it is white for 'Calwhite'. The light sprout of 'Avalanche' is spherical in shape whereas that of 'Calwhite' is broad cylindrical. The base of the light sprout of 'Avalanche' has less anthocyanin with a lower proportion of blue, and less pubescence than the reference variety. The tip of the light sprout of 'Avalanche' has less anthocyanin and more pubescence than that of 'Calwhite'.

Description: PLANT: upright growth habit, intermediate foliage structure

STEM: weak anthocyanin in lower half, main stem thin to medium in thickness, swelling of nodes absent or very low

LEAF: medium green, intermediate in silhouette, anthocyanin in rachis and petiole absent to very weak

TERMINAL LEAFLET: narrowly ovate, acute tip, cordate base, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets

LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, narrowly ovate, acute tip, cordate base, moderately deep veins, moderate to strong waviness of margins, medium glossiness, no pubescence on blade (at apical rosette), moderate presence of secondary leaflets

INFLORESCENCE: absent or very low flowering profusion, buds drop readily, absent to weak anthocyanin in buds

COROLLA: small to medium size, red-violet colour, weak anthocyanin on inner surface, slightly prominent star

PEDUNCLE: anthocyanin absent to very weak

TUBER: oval to round, eyes intermediate in depth and evenly distributed, eyebrows slightly prominent, cream coloured flesh with no secondary colour

SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, medium anthocyanin when exposed to light, smooth to rough texture

LIGHT SPROUT: small to medium, spherical, few root tips, short lateral roots

BASE: medium anthocyanin, low proportion of blue, medium pubescence

TIP: equal in size to base, closed habit, anthocyanin absent to very weak, medium pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Avalanche' originated from the potato breeding program of Irish Potato Breeders at Arpley Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom. The variety was discovered in 1995 and results from a cross between 'DHS 70.1034.9' and 'Maris Piper'. The variety is asexually reproduced through tubers.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Avalanche' 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.

Potato: 'Avalanche' (left) with reference variety 'Calwhite' (right)