DrisBlackFourteen

Blackberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'DrisBlackNine'

Summary: The plants of 'DrisBlackFourteen' have suckering from the roots while the plants of 'DrisBlackNine' are non-suckering. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the dormant canes of 'DrisBlackFourteen' is medium to strong while it is absent or very weak to weak for 'DrisBlackNine'. During rapid growth, the anthocyanin colouration on the young shoot of 'DrisBlackFourteen' is of weak to medium intensity while it is absent or very weak to weak for 'DrisBlackNine'. The terminal leaflet of 'DrisBlackFourteen' is narrower than that of 'DrisBlackNine'. The terminal leaflet of 'DrisBlackFourteen' is v-shaped while the terminal leaflet of 'DrisBlackNine' is u-shaped. The leaflet of 'DrisBlackFourteen' has shallow incisions along the margin while the leaflet of 'DrisBlackNine' has absent to very shallow incisions. The upper side of the leaf of 'DrisBlackFourteen' is light green with weak to medium glossiness while the leaf of 'DrisBlackNine' is medium green with medium to strong glossiness. The flower petal of 'DrisBlackFourteen' is white with a violet tinge whereas the flower of 'DrisBlackNine' is white. There are a medium number of prickles on the fruiting lateral of 'DrisBlackFourteen' while there are many prickles on the fruiting lateral of 'DrisBlackNine'. The fruit of 'DrisBlackFourteen' has a large length to width ratio and very many drupelets while the fruit of `DrisBlackNine' has a medium sized length to width ratio and many drupelets. On the previous and current year's cane, 'DrisBlackFourteen' begins flowering and fruiting late in the season while 'DrisBlackNine' begins flowering and fruiting very late in the season.

Description:

PLANT: upright to semi-upright growth habit, very few to few new canes, suckering from the roots

DORMANT CANE: medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium number of branches, distribution of branches predominantly over whole length of cane, angular in cross-section
SPINES: many, small, outwards attitude of apex in relation to cane

YOUNG SHOOT: weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, light green, medium number of glandular hairs

TIME OF LEAF BUD BURST: mid-season
LEAF: predominantly three leaflets per leaf, palmate type, light green on upper side, weak to medium glossiness of upper side, medium stipules
TERMINAL LEAFLET: no lobing, v-shaped in cross-section, weak undulation of margin, medium blistering between veins, shallow bi-serrate incisions of margin

BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: late on previous and current year's cane
FLOWER: white with violet tinge, dense glandular hairs on pedicel

BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: late on previous and current year's cane
FRUITING LATERAL: medium number of prickles
FRUIT: large length/width ratio, long conical in longitudinal cross-section, black
DRUPELETS: very many, medium sized

Origin & Breeding History: 'DrisBlackFourteen' was discovered in Santa Cruz County, California, USA in June 2008 originating from a cross conducted in April 2006 between 'BM718.7' (proprietary female parent) and 'BN804' (male parent). The original seedling was first asexually propagated at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, California in 2008. Initial selection criteria included yield, medium to large sized, black berries and self-fruitful plants. 'DrisBlackFourteen' was further propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings and underwent testing at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, California from 2012 to 2014.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'DrisBlackFourteen' was conducted in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Each variety consisted of 3 replicates per variety with 3 plants per replicate for a total of 9 plants of each variety. Plants were spaced approximately 1 metre apart in the row. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

Comparison table for 'DrisBlackFourteen' with reference variety 'DrisBlackNine'

Terminal leaflet width (cm)

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Blackberry: 'DrisBlackFourteen' (left) with reference variety 'DrisBlackNine' (right)

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Blackberry: 'DrisBlackFourteen' (left) with reference variety 'DrisBlackNine' (right)