Raspberry plant named ‘MAJESTIC’

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct everbearing variety of raspberry plant named ‘MAJESTIC’. The new variety is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California and is characterized by the following: mid-season primocane production with medium sized fruit of medium-red coloration. Fruit is of consistent conic shape, releases easily from receptacle, is glossy and possesses very good flavor. Foliage is slightly convex, medium green; possessing medium rugosity, weak gloss and equal 3-5 foliates. Primocanes have an absent or very weak waxy coat, medium thorn density of small purple spines and have very weak anthocyanin coloration.

Description

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

Variety denomination: ‘MAJESTIC’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct fall bearing raspberry variety designated as ‘MAJESTIC’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2010 in Watsonville, Calif. between raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459) as the female parent and raspberry variety ‘04.3891’ (unpatented) 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 2012. 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

‘MAJESTIC’ 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 the floricanes. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘MAJESTIC’, which in combination distinguish this raspberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

• • 1. Dark purple spines
  • 2. High fruit yield
  • 3. Medium red fruit color
  • 4. Absent to very weak primocane glaucosity
  • 5. Very good flavor

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

Comparison Between ‘Majestic’ and ‘Grandeur’

TABLE 1
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘MAJESTIC’	Pat. No. 20,459)
Primocane waxy coat	Absent to very	Absent to very
(glaucosity)	weak	weak
Predominate number of leaflets	Equal 3-5	Always 3
Leaf shape (cross section)	Slightly convex	Flat to slightly
		convex
Rugosity	Medium	Strong
Color mature fruit	RHS 43A	RHS 42A
	Medium red	Medium red
Thorn Tip coloration	N186B	180C
	Greyed-purple	Greyed-red
Relative number of pedicel	22.1	16.2
thorns	Many	Medium

‘MAJESTIC’ differs from its parents, ‘GRANDEUR’ and ‘04.3891’ by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 2:

Comparison Between ‘Majestic’, ‘Grandeur’ and ‘04.3891’

TABLE 2
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘MAJESTIC’	Pat. No. 20,459)	‘04.3891’
Productivity	High	High	Medium
Glossiness (fruit)	High	Medium	High
Firmness (fruit)	Medium to	Very high	Medium to
	high		low
Adherence of receptacle	Weak	Very weak	Medium
Primocane time of	Medium	Medium	Medium
fruiting
Fruit size	Medium	Medium	Large
Flavor	Very good	Good	Good

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, ‘MAJESTIC’ 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 ‘MAJESTIC’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new raspberry variety ‘MAJESTIC’ 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 ‘MAJESTIC’ taken in the month of May 2015;

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

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

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

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘MAJESTIC’ 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 ‘MAJESTIC’, 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 ‘MAJESTIC’ 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 ‘MAJESTIC’ 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 ‘MAJESTIC’ in comparison to the similar raspberry varieties ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459).

Comparison Between ‘Majestic’ and ‘Grandeur’

TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘MAJESTIC’	Pat. No. 20,459)
Color mature fruit	RHS 43A	RHS 42A
	Medium red	Medium red
Color achenes	RHS 159A	RHS 159A
	Orange-white	Orange-white
	group	group
Fruit length (mm)	25.49	22.91
Fruit width (mm)	22.73	20.12
Length/Width ratio	1.12	1.14
	Longer than	Longer than
	broad	broad
Seed weight (mg)	1.68	1.75
Drupelets per berry	131	93
Weight of single drupe (g/drupe)	0.044	0.043
Drupe length (mm)	7.15	5.25
Drupe diameter (mm)	4.19	4.86
Relative size of drupes	Medium	Medium
Fruit size	Medium	Medium
Fruit per node	11	15
Predominant shape	Conical	Conical
Receptacle length (mm)	23.55	19.15
Receptacle diameter (mm)	10.41	10.32
Receptacle color	RHS 155B	RHS 155B
	White group	White group
Eveness of color	Even	Even
Glossiness	High	Medium
Adherence of receptacle	Weak	Very weak
Firmness of flesh	Firm	Very firm
Firmess of skin	Firm	Very firm
Soluble solids (% Brix)	10.8	10.5
Flavor	Very good	Good

TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘MAJESTIC’	Pat. No. 20,459)
General:
Habit	Upright	Upright
Plant height (m)	1.8	1.4
Plant width (cm)	35	45
Time to initiate roots (days)	10-12	12-14
Canes per hill	10.4	6.9
Productivity	High	High
Self-fruitfulness	Yes	Yes
Type of bearing	Everbearing	Everbearing
Primocane:
Color (true)	RHS 145A	RHS 145B
	Yellow-green group	Yellow-green
		group
Length (cm)	178.1	143.6
Basal diameter (mm)	13.62	21.80
Diameter central 13 (mm)	11.38	12.55
Lateral length at central 13	28.5	43.6
(cm)
No. fruiting laterals per cane	15.3	17.4
Total nodes per cane	35	31
Internode length at central 13	39.01	48.84
(mm)
Anthocyanin coloration	RHS 59B	RHS 59B
	Red-purple group	Red-purple group
Anthocyanin intensity	Absent to very weak	Weak
Pubescence	Absent	Absent
Vegetative bud length (mm)	10.34	11.01
Vegetative bud diameter (mm)	5.46	6.11
Vegetative bud shape	Ovate	Widely ovate
Vegetative bud color	RHS 187B	RHS 187A
	Greyed-red group	Greyed-red group
Strength of waxy coat	Absent to very weak	Absent to very
(glaucosity)		weak
Time of flowering	Medium	Medium
Time of fruiting	Medium	Medium
Length of fruiting season	Long	Long
% of total yield	44%	50%
Flowering period	Late June to	Late June to
	Late November	Late November
Harvest period	Late July to	Late July to
	Late December	Late December
Primocane fruit weight (g)	4.2	3.8
Primocane yield (g/plant)	2,571	2,662
Young Shoots:
Number (per meter)	15-20	15-20
	Medium	Medium
Anthocyanin presence	Present	Present
Anthocyanin coloration	RHS 179A	RHS 179A
	Red-purple group	Greyed-red group
Antocyanin intensity	Medium	Medium
Thorns:
Thorn coloration (tip)	RHS N186B	RHS 180C
	Greyed-purple group	Greyed-red group
Thorn coloration (base)	RHS N186C	RHS 145B
	Greyed-purple group	Yellow-green
		group
Thorn length at central ⅓ (mm)	0.70	0.76
Thorn base at central ⅓ (mm)	1.23	1.53
Thorn presence	Present	Present
Thorn density per cm at central	5.35	3.38
⅓	Medium	Medium
Thorn texture	Rigid	Rigid
Attitude of the tip	Horizontal	Horizontal
Floricane:
Color (true)	RHS 165B	RHS 164A
	Greyed-orange	Greyed-orange
	group	group
Length (cm)	130.8	119.8
Width at central 13 (mm)	10.88	12.04
Total nodes per cane	20	18
Internode length at central 13	40.70	49.13
(mm)
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 long	Medium to long
% of total yield	56%	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)	4.0	3.7
Floricane yield (g/plant)	3,273	2,680

TABLE 5
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
	‘MAJESTIC’	Pat. No. 20,459)
Characteristic	(3 Foliate)	(3 Foliate)
General:
Color of upper surface	RHS 137A	RHS N137A
	Green group	Green group
Color of lower surface	RHS 192A	RHS 190B
	Greyed-green group	Greyed-green group
Venation	Pinnate	Pinnate
Shape in cross section	Slightly convex	Flat to slightly
		convex
Arrangement	Compound	Compound
Relief between veins	Medium	Strong
(rugosity)
Glossiness	Weak	Weak
Number of leaflets/leaf	Equal 3-5	Always 3
Total leaf length (cm)	21.2	22.5
Total leaf width (cm)	22.1	23.4
Terminal Leaflet:
Length (mm)	116.2	127.5
Width (mm)	79.1	91.6
Length/Width Ratio	1.5	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)	104.9	105.5
Width (mm)	77.2	65.1
Length/Width ratio	1.3	1.6
	Longer than broad	Longer than broad
Rachis length (mm)	43.1	36.2
Rachis diameter (mm)	1.90	1.92
Rachis anthocyanin	RHS 184A	RHS 184A
coloration of upper
surface
Rachis anthocyanin	Weak	Medium
intensity
Orientation	Opposite	Opposite
Arrangement	Compound	Compound
Shape	Ovate	Ovate
Overlapping	Overlapping	Touching
Shape of the base	Rounded	Oblique rounded
Shape of the tip	Acuminate	Acuminate
Margins	Biserrate	Biserrate
Petiole:
Length (mm)	61.10	59.00
Width (mm)	4.68	3.99
Thorn presence	Yes	Yes
Thorn orientation	Erect	Erect
Antocyanin coloration	RHS 180B	RHS 184C
of upper surface	Greyed-purple group	Greyed-purple group
Anthocyanin intensity	Absent to very weak	Weak
of upper surface
Stipule length (mm)	10.70	10.23
Stipule orientation	Erect	Erect to horizontal

TABLE 6
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘MAJESTIC’	Pat. No. 20,459)
Petal color (upper surface)	RHS 155C	RHS 155C
	White group	White group
Petal color (lower surface)	RHS 155C	RHS 155C
	White group	White group
Flower diameter (mm)	21.22	22.55
Petal Length (mm)	7.46	6.42
Petal width (mm)	3.10	3.11
Petal length/width ratio	2.40	2.06
	Much longer	Much longer
	than broad	than broad
Petal shape in cross section	Flat	Flat
Petal shape (overall)	Ovate	Ovate
Petal shape (apex)	Rounded	Rounded
Petal shape (base)	Attenuate	Attenuate
Petal margin	Entire	Entire
Petal texture	Glabrous	Glabrous
No. petals/flower	5.2	5.2
No. sepals/flower	5.4	5.2
Sepal length (mm)	9.70	11.20
Sepal width at base (mm)	5.20	6.49
Sepal shape	Widely deltate	Widely deltate
Sepal shape (apex)	Acuminate	Acuminate
Sepal coloration (upper surface)	RHS 144A	RHS 144B
Sepal coloration (lower surface)	RHS 144B	RHS 144C
Sepal margin	Entire	Entire
Sepal texture	Slightly	Slightly
	pubescent	pubescent
No. stamen/flower	95	105
Filament length (mm)	5.19	4.45
Filament color	RHS 155C	RHS 155C
	White group	White group
Pollen quantity	High	Medium
Pollen color	RHS 196D	RHS 196D
Anther length (mm)	1.12	0.79
Anther diameter (mm)	0.51	0.49
Anther coloration (pre-dehiscence)	RHS 155C	RHS 155C
Anther coloration (post-dehiscence)	RHS 165B	RHS 165B
Stigma shape	Lobed	Lobed
Stigma length (mm)	0.10	0.10
Stigma diameter (mm)	0.41	0.40
Stigma coloration	RHS 145D	RHS 145D
Style length (mm)	3.10	2.03
Style diameter (mm)	0.40	0.39
Style coloration	RHS 145D	RHS 145D
Ovule length (mm)	1.39	1.51
Ovule diameter (mm)	1.42	1.40
Ovule coloration	RHS 145B	RHS 145B
Pedicel length (mm)	20.15	23.86
Pedicel diameter (mm)	1.42	1.47
Pedicel anthocyanin coloration	RHS 181C	RHS 178A
Pedicel anthocyanin intensity	Absent to	Medium
	very weak
Relative number of pedicel thorns	22.1	16.2
	Many	Medium
Peduncle anthocyanin presence	Present	Present
Peduncle anthocyanin coloration	RHS 184A	RHS 184A
	Greyed-	Greyed-
	purple group	purple group
Peduncle anthocyanin intensity	Absent to	Medium
	very weak

TABLE 7
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
		‘GRANDEUR’
		(U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘MAJESTIC’	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. aphanis)	susceptible	susceptible
Yellow rust	Moderately	Moderately
(Phragmidium rubi-ideai)	resistant	susceptible

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant named ‘MAJESTIC’, as herein described and illustrated.