Raspberry plant named ‘IMAGINE’

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct everbearing variety of raspberry plant named ‘IMAGINE’. The new variety is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California and is characterized by the following: early mid-season primocane production with medium to large sized fruit of medium to dark-red coloration. Fruit is of consistent blunt conic shape, releases with some difficulty from receptacle, possessing large drupelets and is of good flavor. Foliage is strongly concave, medium green; possessing medium rugosity and mostly 3 foliate. Primocanes have a strong waxy coat, purple spines, fairly high thorn density and have weak to medium anthocyanin coloration.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rubus idaeus.

Variety denomination: ‘IMAGINE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct fall bearing raspberry variety designated as ‘IMAGINE’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2008 in Watsonville, Calif. between raspberry variety ‘04.3942’ (unpatented) as the female parent and raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459) as the male parent in an ongoing breeding program. The variety is botanically known as Rubus idaeus.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexually propagated by dormant canes in Santa Cruz County, Calif. and was subsequently selected by the inventor from a controlled breeding plot in Watsonville, Calif. in 2010. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated by dormant canes, roots and non-dormant root shoot cuttings in Santa Cruz County, Calif., San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was then extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Santa Cruz County, Calif. 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.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘IMAGINE’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary year-round temperatures required for it to produce and maintain a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from July through December on primocanes and in the ensuing year from May through July on floricanes. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘IMAGINE’, which in combination distinguish this raspberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

• • 1. Dark purple spines
  • 2. High fruit yield
  • 3. Medium to dark red fruit color
  • 4. Strong primocane glaucosity
  • 5. Good flavor

The raspberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new raspberry variety ‘IMAGINE’ is the raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459). In comparison to the similar raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’, ‘IMAGINE’ differs by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘IMAGINE’	Pat. No. 20,459)
Primocane waxy coat	Strong	Absent to very
(glaucosity)		weak
Predominate number of	Mostly 3	Always 3
leaflets
Leaf shape (cross	Strongly concave	Flat to slightly
section)		convex
Thorn density per cm at	8.53	3.38
central ⅓	Dense	Medium
Thorn coloration (tip)	RHS N186B	RHS 180C
	Greyed-purple	Greyed-red
	group	group
Thorn coloration (base)	RHS N186C	RHS 145B
	Greyed-purple	Yellow-green
	group	group
Color mature fruit	RHS 46A	RHS 42A
	Medium to dark	Medium red
	red

‘IMAGINE’ differs from its parents, ‘GRANDEUR’ and ‘04.3942’, by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘IMAGINE’	Pat. No. 15,439)	‘04.3942’
Productivity	High	High	Medium
Glossiness (fruit)	Medium	High	Medium
Firmness (fruit)	Medium to	High	Low
	high
Adherence of receptacle	Weak to	Weak	Medium
	medium
Primocane time of fruiting	Medium	Medium	Medium
Fruit size	Medium to	Medium	Large
	large
Flavor	Good	Good	Excellent

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new raspberry variety ‘IMAGINE’ at various stages of development as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘IMAGINE’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new raspberry variety ‘IMAGINE’ were taken in Watsonville, Calif. and are approximately 2 to 16 months old:

FIG. 1 shows typical primocane foliage and fruit color; foliate and rugosity characteristics of ‘IMAGINE’ taken in the month of May 2015;

FIG. 2 shows typical gloss, coloration, and drupelet formation of floricane fruit of ‘IMAGINE’ taken in the month of May 2015;

FIG. 3 shows typical harvested fruit of ‘IMAGINE’ taken in the month of July 2015;

FIG. 4 shows typical dormant cane color characteristics of ‘IMAGINE’ taken in the month of January 2013.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘IMAGINE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new raspberry variety ‘IMAGINE’, unless otherwise noted, are based upon observations taken during the 2016-2017 growing season in Watsonville, Calif. Primocane measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘IMAGINE’ dug from a nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during the middle of October 2015 and planted approximately 3 to 4 weeks later in Watsonville, Calif. The approximate age of the observed primocane plants is 7 to 8 months. Floricane measurements and ratings were taken from the same planting of ‘IMAGINE’ at an approximate age of 16 to 18 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from three years of data collected from the 2013 through 2016 production seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted. Foliage characteristics and measurements are from 3-foliate foliage unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The R.H.S. Colour Chart Fifth Edition, Royal Horticultural Society, London, United Kingdom (1966).

The following Tables 3-7 describe fruit, plant, foliage, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new raspberry ‘IMAGINE’ in comparison to the similar raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459).

TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
			‘GRANDEUR’
			(U.S. Plant
	Characteristic	‘IMAGINE’	Pat. No. 20,459)
	Color mature fruit	RHS 46A	RHS 42A
		Medium to dark	Medium red
		red
	Color achenes	RHS 159A	RHS 159A
		Orange-white	Orange-white
		group	group
	Fruit length (mm)	25.52	22.91
	Fruit width (mm)	23.13	20.12
	Length/Width ratio	1.10	1.14
		Longer than	Longer than
		broad	broad
	Seed weight (mg)	1.77	1.75
	Drupelets per berry	105	93
	Weight of single drupe	0.061	0.043
	(g/drupe)
	Relative size of drupes	Large	Medium
	Fruit size	Medium to large	Medium
	Predominant shape	Conical	Conical
	Evenness of color	Even	Even
	Glossiness	Medium	Medium
	Adherence of receptacle	Weak to medium	Very weak
	Firmness of flesh	Firm	Very firm
	Firmness of skin	Firm	Very firm
	Soluble solids (% Brix)	10.2	10.5
	Flavor	Good	Good

TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘IMAGINE’	Pat. No. 20,459)
General:
Habit	Upright	Upright
Size	Medium	Medium
Productivity	High	High
Self-fruitfulness	Yes	Yes
Type of bearing	Everbearing	Everbearing
Primocane:
Color (true)	RHS 145B	RHS 145B
	Yellow-given	Yellow-green
	group	group
Length (cm)	162.7	143.6
Basal diameter (mm)	16.33	21.80
Diameter central 1/3 (mm)	11.39	12.55
Lateral length at central 1/3 (cm)	43.4	43.6
No. fruiting laterals per cane	12.8	17.4
Internode length at central 1/3 (mm)	36.51	48.84
Anthocyanin coloration	RHS 59B	RHS 59B
	Red-purple	Red-purple
	group	group
Anthocyanin intensity	Weak to	Weak
	medium
Pubescence	Absent	Absent
Length of vegetative bud (mm)	7.29	11.01
Strength of waxy coat	Strong	Absent to very
(glaucosity)		weak
Time of flowering	Medium	Medium
Time of fruiting	Medium	Medium
Length of fruiting season	Long	Long
% of total yield	55%	50%
Flowering period	Late June to	Late June to
	Late November	Late November
Harvest period	Late July to	Late July to
	Mid December	Mid December
Primocane fruit weight (g)	6.1	3.8
Primocane yield (g/plant)	3,721	2,662
Young Shoots:
Number (per meter)	15-20	15-20
	Medium	Medium
Anthocyanin presence	Present	Present
Anthocyanin coloration	RHS 179B	RHS 179A
	Red-purple	Greyed-red
	group	group
Anthocyanin intensity	Weak	Medium
Thorns:
Thorn coloration (tip)	RHS N186B	RHS 180C
	Greyed-purple	Greyed-red
	group	group
Thorn coloration (base)	RHS N186C	RHS 145B
	Greyed-purple	Yellow-green
	group	group
Thorn length at central 1/3 (mm)	0.88	0.76
Thorn base at central 1/3 (mm)	0.75	1.53
Thorn presence	Present	Present
Thorn density per cm at central	8.53	3.38
1/3	Dense	Medium
Thorn texture	Rigid	Rigid
Attitude of the tip	Horizontal	Horizontal
Floricane:
Color (true)	RHS 164A	RHS 164A
	Greyed-orange	Greyed-orange
	group	group
Length (cm)	121.3	119.8
Fruiting lateral attitude	Erect	Erect
Time bud burst	Medium	Medium
Time of flowering	Medium	Medium
Time of fruiting	Medium	Medium
Length of fruiting season	Medium to	Medium to
	long	long
% of total yield	45%	50%
Flowering period	Late April to	Late April to
	Late June	Late June
Harvest period	Late May to	Late May to
	Late July	Late July
Floricane fruit weight (g)	5.9	3.7
Floricane yield (g/plant)	2,941	2,680

TABLE 5
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
			‘GRANDEUR’
			(U.S. Plant
		‘IMAGINE’	Pat. No. 20,459)
	Characteristic	(3 Foliate)	(3 Foliate)
	General:
	Color of upper surface	RHS 139A	RHS N137A
		Green group	Green group
	Color of lower surface	RHS 190B	RHS 190B
		Greyed-green	Greyed-green
		group	group
	Shape in cross section	Strongly concave	Flat to slightly
			convex
	Arrangement	Compound	Compound
	Relief between veins	Medium	Strong
	(rugosity)
	Glossiness	Medium	Weak
	Number of leaflets/leaf	Mostly 3	Always 3
	Terminal Leaflet:
	Length (mm)	136.2	127.5
	Width (mm)	100.5	91.6
	Length/width ratio	1.3	1.4
		Longer than broad	Longer than broad
	Size	Medium	Medium to large
	Shape	Cordate	Cordate
	Shape of base	Cordate	Cordate
	Shape of tip	Acuminate	Acuminate
	Margins	Biserrate	Biserrate
	Lateral Leaflet:
	Length (mm)	114.6	105.5
	Width (mm)	76.5	65.1
	Length/width ratio	1.5	1.6
		Longer than broad	Longer than broad
	Rachis length (mm)	32.7	36.2
	Orientation	Opposite	Opposite
	Arrangement	Compound	Compound
	Shape	Ovate	Ovate
	Overlapping	Touching	Touching
	Shape of the base	Rounded	Oblique rounded
	Shape of the tip	Acuminate	Acuminate
	Margins	Biserrate	Biserrate
	Petiole:
	Length (mm)	48.60	59.00
	Width (mm)	3.35	3.99
	Thorn presence	Yes	Yes
	Thorn orientation	Erect	Erect
	Anthocyanin coloration	RHS 186C	RHS 184C
	of upper surface	Greyed-purple	Greyed-purple
		group	group
	Anthocyanin intensity	Absent to very	Weak
	of upper surface	weak
	Stipule length (mm)	16.61	10.23
	Stipule orientation	Erect	Erect to horizontal

TABLE 6
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘IMAGINE’	Pat. No. 20,459)
Petal color	155C	155C
	White group	White group
Flower diameter (mm)	22.70	22.55
Petal Length (mm)	7.44	6.42
Petal width (mm)	3.40	3.11
Petal length/width ratio	2.19	2.06
	Much longer	Much longer
	than broad	than broad
No. petals/flower	5.1	5.2
No. sepals/flower	5.1	5.2
Relative number of	19.2	16.2
pedicel thorns	Medium	Medium
Peduncle anthocyanin	Present	Present
presence
Peduncle anthocyanin	RHS 184B	RHS 184A
coloration	Greyed-purple	Greyed-purple
Peduncle anthocyanin	group Strong	group Medium
intensity

TABLE 7
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
			‘GRANDEUR’
			(U.S. Plant
	Characteristic	‘IMAGINE’	Pat. No. 20,459)
	Spotted wing drosophila	Susceptible	Susceptible
	(Drosophila suzukii)
	Two-spotted spider mite	Susceptible	Susceptible
	(Tetranychus urticae)
	Grey fruit mold	Susceptible	Susceptible
	(Botrytis cinerea)
	Powdery mildew	Moderately	Moderately
	(Podosphaera aphanis var.	resistant	susceptible
	aphanis)
	Yellow rust	Moderately	Moderately
	(Phragmidium rubi-idaei)	resistant	susceptible

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant named ‘IMAGINE’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.