DrisBlackTwentyTwo

Blackberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'DrisBlackSix' (Victoria) and 'Carmel'

Summary: The dormant cane of 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' has no spines while the dormant cane of 'Carmel' has very few small spines. The leaf of 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' has medium to deep serrate incisions of margin while the leaf of 'Carmel' has shallow bi-serrate incisions of margin. The flower of 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' is white with a violet tinge while the flower of 'DrisBlackSix' is pinkish and that of 'Carmel' is white. The fruit of 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' is smaller than those of the reference varieties. The drupelet of 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' is small while it is large for 'DrisBlackSix' and medium to large for 'Carmel'. The time of flowering on the previous year`s canes begins late in the season for 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' while it begins mid-season for 'DrisBlackSix'. The time of fruit ripening on the previous year`s canes begins very late in the season for 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' while it begins late in the season for 'DrisBlackSix' and 'Carmel'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, many to very many new canes, suckering from roots, leaf bud burst occurs very early in the season, begins flowering on previous year`s cane late in the season, begins fruit ripening on previous year`s cane very late in the season

YOUNG SHOOT (during rapid growth): medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium to dark green, absent or few glandular hairs
DORMANT CANE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, many branches distributed over whole length, rounded to angular in cross-section, no spines
CURRENT YEAR'S CANE: no fruiting

PETIOLE: very small to small stipules
LEAF: predominantly three and five leaflets, odd-pinnate type, dark green on upper side, weak glossiness on upper side
TERMINAL LEAFLET: lobing absent, u-shaped in cross-section, weak to medium undulation of margin, strong blistering between veins
LEAFLET: medium to deep serrate incisions of margin

FLOWER: white with violet tinge, dense glandular hairs on pedicel

FRUITING LATERAL: absent or very few prickles
FRUIT: small length to width ratio, medium number of small drupelets, oblong in longitudinal section, black

Origin & Breeding History: 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' originated from a cross between 'DrisBlackSix', as the female parent, and a proprietary line designated 'BN809.2', as the male parent, conducted in April 2010 in Santa Cruz County, California, USA. 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' was selected in 2012 on the basis of lack of spines, plant health, fruit size, fruit firmness and flavour. 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' was further propagated by root cuttings and underwent additional testing in Santa Cruz County, California, from 2014 to 2019.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' was conducted in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2021 growing season with dormant cane traits being assessed late in the fall of 2020. There were four replicates per variety, arranged in a randomized complete block design. Each replicate consisted of 3 plants in a 2.7 metre row for a total of 12 plants per variety. Plants were spaced approximately 0.91 metres apart within the row with 3 metre inter-row spacing. Measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of 10 plants of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' with reference varieties 'DrisBlackSix' and 'Carmel'

Fruit length (cm)

Fruit width (cm)

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Blackberry: 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' (left) with reference varieties 'DrisBlackSix' (centre) and 'Carmel' (right)

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Blackberry: 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' (left) with reference varieties 'DrisBlackSix' (centre) and 'Carmel' (right)

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Blackberry: 'DrisBlackTwentyTwo' (left) with reference varieties 'DrisBlackSix' (centre) and 'Carmel' (right)