Patent Application
20150020246
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson
The new floricane-fruiting cultivar of blackberry called ‘Osage’ is described herein. The new cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Arkansas selections A-1719×A-2108 made in 2000. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the spring of 2001 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas). The seedlings fruited in the summer of 2003 and one seedling, designated A-2362, was selected in 2003 for its excellent flavor, thornless canes, even drupelet fill and lack of white drupelets on berries, medium berry size, excellent postharvest storage potential, mid-early season ripening, high yields and healthy plants.
The new and distinct cultivar of blackberry originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Arkansas selections A-1719 (non-patented, unreleased genotype; female)×A-2108 (non-patented, unreleased genotype; male) made in 2000 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 winter to early spring of 2001 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited in the summer of 2003 on floricanes and one seedling, designated A-2362, was selected in 2003 for its excellent flavor, thornless canes, even drupelet fill and lack of white drupelets on berries, medium berry size, excellent postharvest storage potential, mid-early season ripening, high yields and healthy plants.
During 2003, the original plant selection was propagated asexually from root cuttings at the above-noted location, and a test row of 20 plants was established. Subsequently, larger test plantings have been established with asexually multiplied plants at two locations in Arkansas.
The new cultivar has been asexually multiplied annually since 2003 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. The plants shown in the figures are all three years old.
Plants and fruit of this new cultivar differ phenotypically from its parents. The new cultivar is larger and more productive than its parent Ark. 1719, and has better postharvest handling potential although slightly smaller berry than its parent Ark. 2108. 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 26 April for 10% bloom and 2 May for 50% bloom. This is several days later than for Natchez (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,891) and earlier than Ouachita (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,162).
Fruit of the new cultivar has an average first harvest date of 10 June, 5 days after Natchez, and 3 days before Ouachita. The average floricane fruiting period is 40 days.
Fruit yields of the new cultivar on floricanes are 3-4 kg (6-9 lb/plant), comparable to or exceeding that for Ouachita, in West-Central Arkansas.
The fruit is short, blocky, and uniform shape, bright glossy black in color, and very attractive. The floricane fruit is medium (5 g) and comparable to or slightly smaller than that of Ouachita. Fruit size of the new cultivar is maintained well throughout the entire harvest season. The new cultivar exhibits excellent fruit fertility with full drupelet set. The fruit is very firm at maturity, comparable to that of Ouachita and Natchez. Storage potential of fresh fruit of the new cultivar is comparable to or exceeds that of Ouachita and exceeds that of Natchez.
The fresh fruit rates very good in flavor and is a major attribute of the cultivar, and is comparable to or exceeding that of Ouachita and Natchez. The flavor is sweet and mildly acidic, with a distinct blackberry aroma. The soluble solids concentration averages 10.3% on shiny black fruit, comparable to Natchez 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 three years old and grown on a fine sandy loam soil with trickle irrigation at or 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 postemergence 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. unless otherwise noted.
