Eclipse

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Yukon Gold'

Summary: The plant growth habit of 'Eclipse' is spreading whereas it is upright in 'Yukon Gold'. The plants of 'Eclipse' are shorter than those of 'Yukon Gold'. The corolla of 'Eclipse' is white whereas it is red-violet on 'Yukon Gold'. The light sprouts of 'Eclipse' are ovoid in shape whereas they are spherical in 'Yukon Gold'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the light sprout of 'Eclipse' is weak at the base and absent or very weak at the tip whereas it is strong at the base and weak at the tip on 'Yukon Gold'.

Description:

PLANT: spreading growth habit, intermediate type foliage structure

STEM: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, thin main stem, low swelling at nodes

LEAVES: light green, intermediate silhouette, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on upper side of rachis and petiole, absent to very low frequency of coalescence, medium to deep veins, weak waviness of margin, medium to strong glossiness of upper side, weak pubescence, medium presence of secondary leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: medium ovate, acuminate tip, cordate base
LATERAL LEAFLET: medium size, narrowly ovate, acute tip, cordate base

INFLORESCENCE: absent to very low flowering profusion, small
FLOWER BUD: low to medium persistence, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: white, large, weak prominence of star
PEDUNCLE: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval, medium yellow flesh with no secondary colour
TUBER EYES: shallow, evenly distributed, slight prominence of eyebrows
TUBER SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, strong anthocyanin colouration of skin in reaction to light, smooth texture

LIGHT SPROUT: medium size, ovoid shape, few root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHT SRPOUT BASE: weak anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence
LIGHT SPROUT TIP: smaller in size than base, intermediate habit, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence

Origin & Breeding History: 'Eclipse' originated from the cross of 'Karlena' and 'Karatop', made in Gross Lüsewitz, Germany in 1988. The seedling was first selected in the field in 1989. Phenotypic recurrent selection tecnhiques were used over more than ten years to arrive at the final variety. Selection criteria included maturity, yield, disease resistance, morphological traits, storage characteristics and processing traits.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Eclipse' were conducted in Central Blissville, New Brunswick in 2008. All entries were planted in single-row plots. Plots consisted of rows 22 metres long spaced 91 cm apart with 30 cm in row spacing between plants. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements. Colour determinations were made using the 1986 RHS colour chart.

Comparison tables for 'Eclipse' with reference variety 'Yukon Gold'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Eclipse' (left) with reference variety 'Yukon Gold' (right)