Birgit

Potato

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Norland'

Summary: The habit of the tip of the lightsprout of 'Birgit' is closed whereas the habit of the tip of the lightsprout of 'Norland' is open. The pubescence of the tip of the lightsprout of 'Birgit' is sparse whereas the pubescence of the tip is dense for 'Norland'. The plants of 'Birgit' are taller than the plants of 'Norland'. The upper side of the leaf of 'Birgit' is light green whereas the leaf of 'Norland' is dark green. The frequency of inflorescences per plant is high for 'Birgit' whereas the frequency is low to medium for 'Norland'. The time of maturity of the plants of 'Birgit' is mid-season whereas the plants of 'Norland' mature early. The colour of the tuber flesh of 'Birgit' is dark yellow whereas the tuber flesh of 'Norland' is white.

Description:

LIGHTSPROUT: medium, ovoid shape, few root tips, short lateral shoots
LIGHTSPROUT BASE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse to medium density of pubescence
LIGHTSPROUT TIP: medium size in relation to base, closed habit, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence

PLANT: foliage structure is intermediate to leaf type where foliage is half open to closed and stems are partly to hardly visible, semi-upright to spreading growth habit, mid-season maturity

STEM: low to medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire length

LEAF: outline is medium size, openness is intermediate between closed and open, light green on upper side, high extent and medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, medium presence of secondary leaflets, absent or very low frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets
SECOND PAIR OF LATERAL LEAFLETS: medium size, leaflet is narrower than long
LEAFLET: weak waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, medium glossiness of upper side, pubescent blade at apical rosette

INFLORESCENCE: high frequency per plant, medium to large size
PEDUNCLE: low extent of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER BUD: low extent of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: medium size
COROLLA (INNER SIDE): medium extent of anthocyanin colouration, weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration

TUBER: oval shape, dark yellow flesh
TUBER EYE: shallow, yellow at base
TUBER SKIN: red

Origin & Breeding History: 'Birgit' originated from the Saatzucht Firlbeck GmbH & Company KG private breeding program. It is the result of a hybridization conducted in 1999 between the varieties 'Exempla' and 'Laura'. The seed from the cross was planted in a greenhouse in 2000 and the resulting tubers were planted in the field during the spring of 2001. From these, 'Birgit' was selected in 2001 for its agronomic characteristics and resistance to various diseases.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Birgit' was conducted during the growing season of 2015 in Drummond, New Brunswick. The trial consisted of a single, 18.5 metre long row containing 60 plants spaced 0.3 metres apart for each variety. The distance between rows within the trial was 0.9 metres. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'Birgit' with reference variety 'Norland'

Plant height (cm)

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Potato: 'Birgit' (left) with reference variety 'Norland' (right)