Patent Application
20150150169
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson
The new floricane-fruiting cultivar of blackberry called ‘A-1960’ is described herein. The new cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. selections Ark.-1583×Ark.-1482 made in 1991. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the spring of 1992 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas). The seedlings fruited in the summer of 1994. One seedling, designated A-1960, was selected in 1994 for its very firm fruit with long shape, medium-large size, attractive fruit appearance, very good flavor, excellent plant health, and cane erectness.
The new and distinct cultivar of blackberry originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. Selection Ark.-1583 (non-patented, unreleased genotype; female)×Ark.-1482 (non-patented, unreleased genotype; male) made in 1991 and located near Clarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas). The botanical designation of the new cultivar of blackberry is Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson.
The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the spring of 1992 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited in the summer of 1994 on floricanes. One seedling, designated A-1960, was selected in 1994 for its very firm fruit with long shape, medium-large size, attractive fruit appearance, very good flavor, excellent plant health, and cane erectness.
During 1994, the original plant selection was propagated asexually from root cuttings at the above-noted location, and a test row of 10 plants was established. Subsequently, larger test plantings have been established with asexually multiplied plants at two locations in Arkansas. At each location propagation was from root cuttings from the Clarksville, Ark. test plot.
The new cultivar has been asexually multiplied since 1994 by the use of root cuttings and by rooting adventitious shoots from root cuttings. It forms new shoots from adventitious buds on root cuttings readily. During all asexual multiplication, the characteristics of the original plant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypes have appeared.
The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character.
Plants and fruit of this new cultivar differ phenotypically from its parents. The new cultivar is later ripening and sweeter than parent A-1583, and later ripening, more even drupelet set and is larger than parent A-1482. Although blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) are highly heterogeneous and outcrossing, and most clones contain genes from more than one species, the new cultivar and its progenitor lines phenotypically exhibit characters predominately of the erect eastern United States species, Rubus allegheniensis Porter (highbush blackberry).
Plants of the new cultivar are vigorous and prolific and row establishment following planting is rapid. Both primocanes and floricanes are erect in growth habit. The canes can be trained to a self-supporting hedgerow although it is beneficial to use a trellis with supporting wires to prevent canes from falling over due to wind or heavy fruit loads. The plants are thornless. Plants and fruit are moderately resistant to anthracnose [Elsinoe veneta (Burkh.) Jenkins], and plants appear immune to orange rust [Gymnoconia nitens (Schwein.) F. Kern and H. W. Thurston.]. No screening has been done for resistance to double blossom/rosette [Cercosporella rubi (Wint.) Plakidas]
The bloom period of the new cultivar begins on average 23 April for 10% bloom and 27 April for 50% bloom. This is two days earlier than for Apache (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,865) and the same as Ouachita (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,162).
Floricane fruit of the new cultivar begins ripening 4 days before Ouachita and about 7 days before Apache and ends about the same time as Ouachita. Average first ripening date is 6 June in West-Central Arkansas. The average floricane fruiting period is 40-50 days.
Fruit yields of the new cultivar on floricanes are usually 1.5 to 2.0 kg (3 to 4.5 lb/plant), comparable to Ouachita, in West-Central Arkansas.
The fruit is elongated to slightly conical in shape, black in color, and very attractive. The floricane fruit is medium-large (5-6 g) similar to Ouachita. Fruit size of the new cultivar is maintained well throughout the entire harvest season.
The fresh fruit rates very well in flavor, comparable to Ouachita and Apache. The soluble solids concentration averages about 11-12% on shiny black fruit comparable to Apache and Ouachita. Fruit and flower clusters are medium-large, cymose, and are mostly borne on the periphery of the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest. Flower fertility is high and clusters are well filled.
The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the subject blackberry. Color data are presented in Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations (1986 2nd edition). Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations of averages set forth as accurately as practicable.
Plants used for botanical data were 16 years old and grown on a fine sandy loam soil with sprinkler irrigation near Clarksville, Ark. The plants were fertilized near budbreak (late March on average) with complete or nitrogen fertilizer, and had an additional nitrogen fertilizer application in early July. Primocanes were tipped at approximately 45 inches, and grown in a hedgerow training system. Weeds were controlled with pre- and post-emergence herbicides supplemented with mechanical weed control activities. A single application of liquid lime sulfur was applied to the plants at budbreak, but no other fungicides were used. The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown near Clarksville, Ark.
