Patent Application
20130212754
Rubus ursinus
‘HJ-7’
The present invention relates to a new and distinct trailing blackberry variety designated as ‘HJ-7’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors, Harold A. Johnson Jr. and Judith E. Johnson, in 2005 between the blackberry variety designated ‘Obsidian’ (female) and the blackberry variety designated ‘Eaton’ (male), both parental varieties unpatented. The variety ‘HJ-7’ is botanically known as Rubus ursinus.
The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot near Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. in 2007 by the inventors. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated beginning in October of 2007 in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. by tissue culture. The new variety was then tested in fruiting fields in Santa Cruz County, California. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
‘HJ-7’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in California, and is being tested in Southern California, and in Europe. ‘HJ-7’ has reacted favorably to the coastal climates of northern coastal California, but for maximum fruit production, ‘HJ-7’ requires consistent soil moisture and adequate nutrition. ‘HJ-7’ reacts favorably to an environment created by plastic tunnels.
The following traits have been observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘HJ-7’, which in combination distinguish this blackberry plant as a new and distinct variety.
1. consistent early spring production of large size, good quality fruit.
2. Medium to large fruit size responds favorably to careful packing when shipped in 6 oz. clamshell baskets;
3. thorny and trailing plant structure; and
4. Early spring fruit production, starting in May, with peak production in early June, and continued, limited production through June and further, when grown in Santa Cruz County, California.
When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-7’ is compared to the female parental variety ‘Obsidian’, the following trait differences have been observed:
1. The peak fruit production of ‘HJ-7’ occurs slightly earlier than ‘Obsidian’, and earlier than most trailing and erect types;
2. in holding testing after picking, the average flavor rating was the same, but ‘HJ-7’ rated higher in appearance than Obsidian after various days in cold storage;
3. ‘HJ-7’ has produced less crates per acre than ‘Obsidian’.
4. the average soluble solids concentration of Obsidian is 10.8, and ‘HJ-7’ is 12.0.
5. the average seed size of ‘HJ-7’ is is 3.82 mm in length and 2.33 mm in width, and Obsidian 4.00 mm in length and 1.93 mm in width.
When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-7’ is compared to the male parental variety ‘Eaton’, the following trait differences have been observed:
‘HJ-7’ has thorns whereas ‘Eaton’ has no thorns;
2. the fruit size and shape of ‘HJ-7’ is medium, and ovate to elliptical while the fruit size and shape of ‘Eaton’ is small, and long conic;
3. ‘HJ-7’ has determinate inflorescence which limits the number of peduncles as well as the length and number of each pedicel per plant leading to a limited number of berries which are larger in size, whereas ‘Eaton’ has indeterminate inflorescence which produces a larger number of smaller berries per plant;
4. ‘HJ-7’ has an abundant supply of pollen which leads to a minimum number of malformed fruit, whereas ‘Eaton’ lacks consistently good pollen at the end of its indeterminate inflorescences and thus often produces poorly-shaped, small fruit;
5. ‘HJ-7’ has larger leaves than ‘Eaton’; and
6. ‘HJ-7’ has stronger overall vegetative strength than ‘Eaton’.
When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-7’ is compared to the similar variety ‘HJ-6’, the following trait differences have been observed:
1. the fruit production of ‘HJ-6’ occurs later in the season than ‘HJ-7’;
2. the overall (total season) production of ‘HJ-6’ is greater than that of ‘HJ-7’;
3. the average berry size of ‘HJ-6’ (8-10 g) is larger than the average berry size of ‘HJ-7’ (6-7 g);
4. the leaf color of ‘HJ-6’ is lighter in early June (7.5 GY4-4) than the leaf color of ‘HJ-7’ at the same point in the season (7.5 GY3-2); and
5. ‘HJ-6’ is considered superior to ‘HJ-7’ in side-by-side flavor test results.
The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new blackberry variety, ‘HJ-7’ as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Plants shown in the photographs are two years old.
The following description of ‘HJ-7’ unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons in Santa Cruz County, California. The plants observed were two years old. The phenotypical descriptions and color designations stated for the new variety may vary, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, location and cultural conditions. ‘HJ-7’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.
Table 1 provides a botanical comparison of ‘HJ-7’ to the following two (2) unpatented, commercially grown varieties in Santa Cruz County, California: (1) ‘Obsidian’, a trailing, semi-erect, thorny and early ripening variety (female parental variety, unpatented), and (2) ‘HJ-6’ (U.S. application Ser. No. 13/064,117), a sibling to ‘HJ-7’.
