UCONNAM012

Black Chokeberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'UCONNAM165' (LowScape Mound)

Summary: The plants of 'UCONNAM012' are wider and have a greater number of main and secondary branches than the plants of 'UCONNAM165'. The plants of 'UCONNAM012' have medium to dense branching while those of 'UCONNAM165' have a sparse to medium density of branching. The stems of 'UCONNAM012' have a medium number of lenticels whereas those of 'UCONNAM165' have few lenticels. The plants of 'UCONNAM012' have fewer berries per stem than those of 'UCONNAM165'.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, obconical shape, bushy growth habit, medium to dense branching, medium growth rate

STEM: red brown, medium thickness, absent or very sparse pubescence, round in cross-section, smooth bark, weak to medium glaucosity, medium number of lenticels, absent or very few thorns

PETIOLE: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration with medium intensity anthocyanin colouration at the base
LEAF: simple type, alternate arrangement on stem
LEAF BLADE: obovate, slightly elliptic when newly opened, cupsidate apex, cuneate base, crenate margin, no lobing, no variegation, absent or very weak rugosity, absent or very weak waviness of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, medium green
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse pubescence, light green, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration on the veins

INFLORESCENCE: corymb type
FLOWER: rotate shape corolla, white (RHS NN155D) with very few small medium blue pink (RHS 63C) spots on upper and lower side
ANTHER: dark purple (RHS 64A)

FRUIT: simple (fleshy) formation, berry type, black on outer surface when ripe

Origin & Breeding History: 'UCONNAM012' originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in May 2003 in Storrs, Connecticut, USA between the Aronia melanocarpa variety designated 'BPMe' as the female parent, and pollen from an unknown male parent. 'UCONNAM012' was selected in May 2006 in Mansfield, Connecticut, USA based on plant growth habit, foliage characteristics and fruit colour. Asexual reproduction of 'UCONNAM012' was first conducted in June 2006 in Mansfield, Connecticut, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'UCONNAM012' was conducted in an outdoor irrigated container trial during the summer of 2022 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into 11.36 litre containers and overwintered in a polyhouse. The trial was arranged in rows, with 1 row per variety and 1 metre spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants. Flower characteristics were assessed on May 17, 2022, and plant and fruit characteristics were assessed on August 31, 2022. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'UCONNAM012' with reference variety 'UCONNAM165'

Plant width (cm)

Number of main branches per plant

Number of secondary branches per plant

Number of berries per stem

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Black Chokeberry: 'UCONNAM012' (left) with reference variety 'UCONNAM165' (right)

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Black Chokeberry: 'UCONNAM012' (left) with reference variety 'UCONNAM165' (right)

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Black Chokeberry: 'UCONNAM012' (left) with reference variety 'UCONNAM165' (right)