Ruby

Arctic Bramble

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Harry' and 'Beata'

Summary: The plants of 'Ruby' have an upright growth habit and are shorter than those of 'Beata', which have a semi-upright growth habit. The anthocyanin colouration on the leaf of the young shoot of 'Ruby' is of weak intensity whereas that of 'Harry' is of medium intensity. The upper side of the leaf of 'Ruby' is light green while that of 'Harry' is medium green. The upper side of the leaf of 'Ruby' has sparse pubescence while that of 'Harry' has absent or very sparse pubescence and that of 'Beata' has medium density pubescence. The terminal leaflet of 'Ruby' is longer than that of 'Harry' and smaller than that of 'Beata'. The anthocyanin colouration on the peduncle of 'Ruby' is of weak intensity whereas that of both reference varieties is of medium intensity. The distribution of anthocyanin colouration on the calyx of 'Ruby' is distinct whereas it is diffuse for 'Beata'. The presence of notched petals is occasional on the flower of 'Ruby' while it is absent or rare on the flower of 'Harry'. The fruiting period of 'Ruby' begins mid-season and is of medium length while that of 'Beata' begins late and is short. The fruit of 'Ruby' is large while that of the reference varieties is medium sized. The fruit skin of 'Ruby' is bright red with strong glossiness whereas that of the reference varieties is dark red with medium glossiness. The plants of 'Ruby' senesce mid-season while those of 'Harry' senesce early.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, senesces mid-season

EXPANDING LEAF OF YOUNG SHOOT: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration at anthesis
LEAF: concave in cross-section, weak to medium rugosity, doubly crenate margin
LATERAL LEAFLETS: overlapping
LEAF (UPPER SIDE): medium green, sparse pubescence
TERMINAL LEAFLET: concave in cross-section

PEDUNCLE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWERING: occurs mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: positioned above foliage
FLOWER: notched petals occasional

FRUITING PERIOD: begins mid-season, medium length
CALYX: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration distributed in a distinct pattern
FRUIT: large, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration with medium distribution at fruit swelling
FRUIT SURFACE: bright red, strong glossiness

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ruby' originated from a cross conducted in Pointe-aux-Outardes, Quebec in 2006 between a Rubus arcticus subspecies stellatus variety designated 'Beata' and a Rubus arcticus subspecies acaulis variety designated 'BS-1'. In 2007, the resulting seedlings were nursery matured in pots for 3 years before being planted into raised beds in 2010. Eight selections made in 2012, based on yield, fruit size, display and flavour, were propagated by rhizome cuttings and planted in replicated field trials in 2013 and 2014. The plants were evaluated from 2015 to 2018 in regards to fruiting period, yield, fruit size and flavour and from 2019 to 2021 in regards to clone compatability. Single stock plants of each of 6 retained selections, including the 2 parents, were successively divided and in 2021, controlled crosses on these plants were made to determine cross compatability between the selected clones. In August 2022, the final selection of the clone designated 'Ruby' was based on flavour and cross compatability with two other selected clones.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Ruby' was conducted during the summer of 2023 in Pointe-aux-Outardes, Quebec. Individual plants in 10 cm pots were transplanted into 8 litre troughs in 2021, overwintered in a nursery and placed outdoors in the spring of 2023. The trial consisted of 10 blocks with each block consisting of 3 plants with the candidate variety distributed randomly either on the left or right of the 2 reference varieties. The blocks were arranged in 2 rows of 15 plants with a total of 10 plants per variety. All observations and plant height measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants. Leaf measurements were taken from 30 leaves. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Ruby' with reference varieties 'Harry' and 'Beata'

Plant height (cm)

Terminal leaflet length (cm)

Terminal leaflet width (cm)

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Arctic Bramble: 'Ruby' (right) with reference varieties 'Beata' (centre) and 'Harry' (left)

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Arctic Bramble: 'Ruby' (right) with reference varieties 'Beata' (centre) and 'Harry' (left)

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Arctic Bramble: 'Ruby' (right) with reference varieties 'Beata' (centre) and 'Harry' (left)