SEBEC

Potato Variety Information

Variety Name: SebecRights Holder | Breeder: UNIVERSITY OF MAINECountry of Origin:

United StatesYear of of introduction:

Variety Description

Sebec produces good quality potato chips directly from the field; however, it does not produce light-colored chips from storage. Sebec tubers are round to slightly oblong with a lightly textured, buff-colored skin and white flesh.

While chip potato processing from the field is expected to be the primary market for Sebec, it has good flavor and can also be useful for fresh market consumption.

Sebec plants have good vigor and mature at mid-season. The variety has good resistance to Verticillium wilt, a common soil-borne plant disease that is present in most production areas.

Characteristics

Lightsprout: large, conical shape, medium number of root tips, medium length lateral shoots.
Lightsprout Base: very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium to high proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence.
Lightsprout Tip: small in relation to base, intermediate between closed and open habit, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence.
Plant: foliage structure is stem to intermediate type where foliage is open to half open and stems are clearly to partly visible, upright growth habit, mid-season maturity.
Stem: medium extent of anthocyanin colouration along entire length.
Leaf: outline is medium size, openness is open, medium green on upper side, high extent and medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration on upper side of midrib, weak to medium presence of secondary leaflets, medium frequency of coalescence of terminal and lateral leaflets.
Second Pair Of Lateral Leaflets: medium size, leaflet is narrower than long.
Leafleat: weak waviness of margin, medium depth of veins, dull to medium glossiness of upper side, glabrous blade at apical rosette.
Inflorescence: medium to high frequency per plant, medium size.
Peduncle: medium to high extent of anthocyanin colouration.
Flower Bud: high extent of anthocyanin colouration.
Corolla: medium size.
Corolla (Inner Side): high extent of anthocyanin colouration, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or low to medium proportion of blue in anthocyanin colouration.
Tuber: round shape, white flesh.
Tuber Eye: shallow to medium depth, yellow at base.
Tuber Skin: light beige, develops strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration in reaction to light.

Origin and Breeding History

'Sebec' (experimental designation 'AF0338-17) originated from the University of Maine potato breeding program. It is the result of a cross conducted in 2001 between the selections designated 'AF303-5', as the female parent, and 'SA8211-6', as the male parent.

The seeds from the cross were planted in a greenhouse during the spring of 2002 and the resulting seedlings were transplanted and grown in a greenhouse at the University of Maine's Aroostook Research Farm, in Presque Isle, Maine.

From these, several of the largest seedling tubers were harvested to create a family of seedling tubers from the cross. This family of tubers was planted in the field during the spring of 2003.

From these, selections were made in the fall of 2003 based on visual characteristics including tuber shape, appearance, size, and yield.

Further evaluation of the selections was conducted over a number of years during which the evaluation was more intensive and the plots increased in size and/or the number of locations, so that progressively fewer clones were retained.

Many traits were evaluated including yield, tuber size profile, specific gravity, ability to chip from the field and/or storage, freedom from internal and external physical defects, appearance, maturity, and yield.

'Sebec' was one of the selections from 2003 which was retained throughout the selection process.