Opera

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Kennebec'

Summary: The lightsprout of 'Opera' has a few root tips whereas 'Kennebec' has a medium number of root tips. The intensity of the anthocyanin colouration at the base of the lightsprout for 'Opera' is strong with the proportion of blue as absent to medium whereas the intensity is weak with a medium proportion of blue for 'Kennebec'. The lightsprout tip of 'Opera' has a closed to intermediate habit, medium to dense pubescence and the intensity of the anthocyanin colouration is weak whereas 'Kennebec' has a closed habit, absent or very sparse pubescence and the intensity of anthocyanin colouration is absent or very weak. The extent of anthocyanin colouration is low along the entire stem for 'Opera' whereas it is absent for 'Kennebec'. The foliage structure of 'Opera' is an intermediate type (foliage half open, stems partly visible) whereas 'Kennebec' is a leaf type (foliage closed, stems not, or hardly visible). 'Opera' has a medium sized leaf outline whereas it is large in 'Kennebec'. The presence of secondary leaflets in 'Opera' is strong whereas it is medium in 'Kennebec'. 'Opera' has a large sized inflorescence whereas it is small in 'Kennebec'. The extent of the anthocyanin colouration on the flower bud is medium for 'Opera' whereas it is absent or very low in 'Kennebec'. The tubers of 'Opera' have a short oval shape and have a medium yellow flesh whereas tubers of 'Kennebec' are short oval to oval in shape with a white flesh. 'Opera' has weak anthocyanin colouration of the skin of the tuber in reaction to light whereas it is medium to strong in 'Kennebec'.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium to large size, ovoid, root tips few in numbers, short to medium lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, with absent to medium proportion of blue in the anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, closed to intermediate habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium to dense pubescence

PLANT: foliage structure is an intermediate type where foliage is half open and stems are partly visible, semi-upright growth habit, medium maturity

STEM: low extent of anthocyanin colouration along the entire stem

LEAF: medium outline, closed to intermediate openness, light to medium green colour, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the midrib of the upper side
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: small to medium size, narrower than long width in relation to length
LEAFLETS: strong presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets, medium waviness of margin, shallow depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, no pubescence on blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: high frequency per plant, large size, medium extent of anthocyanin colouration on peduncle
FLOWER BUD: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium to large size, absent or very low extent and absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the inner side, with absent or low proportion of blue

TUBER: short oval shape, medium yellow flesh
TUBER EYES: shallow to medium depth
TUBER SKIN: yellow, yellow at base of eye, weak anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light

Origin & Breeding History: The origin of 'Opera' (experimental designation RZD-96-2014) is the result of the cross made in 1995 between 'Victoria' as the female parent and 'RZD-85-238' as the male parent at the HZPC Research & Development Centre in Metslawier, The Netherlands. Selection criteria included internal and external quality, yield and resistances against different diseases and pests.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Opera' were conducted during the 2012 growing season in Drummond, New Brunswick. Each plot per variety consisted of 60 plants grown in a single row with a row length of 18.5 metres and a row spacing of 0.9 metres between rows. Plants were spaced 0.30 metres apart.

Comparison table for 'Opera' with reference variety 'Kennebec'

Plant height (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Potato: 'Opera' (left) with reference variety 'Kennebec' (right)