Latin name: Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson.
Varietal denomination: ‘Ponca’.
The new floricane-fruiting cultivar of blackberry called ‘Ponca’ is described herein. The new cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of ‘Ark. 2406’ (a non-patented, unreleased genotype) x ‘Ark. 2253T’ (a non-patented, unreleased genotype) made in 2008. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the spring of 2009 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas). The seedlings fruited in the summer of 2012 and one seedling, designated ‘A-2538T’ now called ‘Ponca’, was selected for its medium size, very firm berries with very sweet, sub-acid flavor, excellent postharvest fruit-handling potential, early season ripening, and good plant health.
This new and distinct cultivar of blackberry originated from a hand-pollinated cross of ‘Ark. 2406’ (a non-patented, unreleased genotype) x ‘Ark. 2253T’ (a non-patented, unreleased genotype) made in 2008 and located near Clarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas). The botanical designation of the new cultivar of blackberry is Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the winter to early spring of 2009 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited in the summer of 2012 on floricanes and one seedling, designated ‘A-2538T’, now ‘Ponca’, was selected for medium size, very firm berries with very sweet, sub-acid flavor, excellent postharvest fruit-handling potential, early season ripening, and good plant health.
During 2012, 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 2012 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 from which the images were taken were three years old.
Plants and fruit of this new cultivar differ phenotypically from its parents. The new cultivar is thornless, more productive and its fruit size is smaller than its female parent ‘Ark. 2406’. The new cultivar is earlier ripening with more erect canes, larger, and has sweeter fruit than its male parent ‘Ark. 2253T’. 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 have shown no evidence of anthracnose [Elsinoe veneta (Burkh.) Jenkins], and no evidence of susceptibility to orange rust [Gymnoconia nitens (Schwein.) F. Kern and H. W. Thurston.]. Plants have shown slight susceptibility to cane and leaf rust (Kuehneola uredines (Link) Arthur). No screening has been done for resistance to double blossom/rosette [Cercosporella rubi (Wint.) Plakidas].
The bloom period of the new cultivar begins 26 April for 10% bloom is near that of ‘Caddo’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,892), and four days later than ‘Osage’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,120). The average date for 50% bloom is 1 May, which is two days earlier than ‘Caddo’ and three days later than ‘Osage’.
Fruit of the new cultivar has an average first harvest date of 3 June and is two days earlier than ‘Caddo’ and ‘Osage’. The average floricane fruiting period is 55 days.
Fruit yield of the new cultivar on floricanes averages 5.8 kg (12.7 lb)/plant, slightly less than that for ‘Osage’ and near that of ‘Caddo’, in West-Central Arkansas. Plants have performed well with no winter injury with winter temperatures of 1° F. (−17° C.).
The fruit is round in shape and glossy with a uniform black finish. The floricane fruit is medium (ave. 6.2 g), slightly larger than ‘Osage’, and smaller than ‘Caddo’. 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 dry seed weight for the new cultivar averaged 4.04 mg/seed, larger than ‘Osage’ and similar to ‘Caddo’.
The fresh fruit rates very well in flavor and is a noteworthy attribute of the cultivar and is comparable to ‘Osage’, and ‘Caddo’. Consistent flavor was noted at repeated observations of fruit of this cultivar over the years of evaluation including after rain events that can reduce flavor and overall fruit quality. The flavor is sweet and sub-acid. The soluble solids concentration averages 13.4% on shiny black fruit, which is higher than ‘Osage’, and ‘Caddo’. Titratable acidity averages 0.54 g/L (expressed as citric acid) and is lower than that for ‘Osage’ (0.89 g/L) and ‘Caddo’ (1.0 g/L). Storage potential of fresh fruit of the new cultivar is good and overall comparable to ‘Osage’ and ‘Caddo’. 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 Color 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 drip 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 1.14 m (45 inches) and grown in a hedgerow training system including a trellis. Weeds were controlled with pre- and post-emergent herbicides supplemented with mechanical weed control activities. A single application of liquid lime sulfur was applied to the plants at budbreak, and two additional fungicide applications were applied: one near bloom and another two weeks later. Insecticides were used for spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii Matsumura) control during the harvest season. The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown near Clarksville, Ark.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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PP6679 | Moore | Mar 1989 | P |
PP8510 | Moore | Dec 1993 | P |
PP11861 | Clark et al. | May 2001 | P2 |
PP11865 | Clark et al. | May 2001 | P2 |
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PP16989 | Clark et al. | Aug 2006 | P3 |
PP17162 | Clark | Oct 2006 | P3 |
PP17983 | Cabrera Avalos | Sep 2007 | P2 |
PP20891 | Clark | Mar 2010 | P3 |
PP22449 | Clark | Jan 2012 | P3 |
PP23497 | Clark et al. | Mar 2013 | P3 |
PP24249 | Clark | Feb 2014 | P3 |
PP25864 | Clark | Sep 2015 | P3 |
PP26120 | Clark | Nov 2015 | P3 |
PP26368 | Banados Ortiz et al. | Feb 2016 | P3 |
PP26405 | Clark et al. | Feb 2016 | P3 |
PP26413 | Ortiz et al. | Feb 2016 | P3 |
PP26990 | Clark | Aug 2016 | P3 |
PP27032 | Clark | Aug 2016 | P2 |
PP27401 | Clark et al. | Nov 2016 | P3 |
PP28598 | Clark | Nov 2017 | P3 |
Entry |
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