Kuchi

Blue Honeysuckle

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Kapu', 'Taka' and 'Borealis'

Summary: The bud burst of 'Kuchi' occurs late in the season whereas the bud burst of 'Kapu' occurs mid-season and that of 'Taka' occurs early to mid-season and that of 'Borealis' occurs early in the season. The leaf blade of 'Kuchi' is longer than the leaf blade of 'Kapu' and 'Taka'. The beginning of flowering of 'Kuchi' occurs late in the season whereas the beginning of flowering of 'Kapu' and 'Taka' occurs mid-season and 'Borealis' occurs early in the season. The fruit of 'Kuchi' ripens very late in the season whereas the fruit ripens late in the season for 'Kapu' and 'Taka' and early in the season for 'Borealis'. The fruit of 'Kuchi' is longer than that of all the reference varieties and wider than that of 'Taka' and 'Borealis'.

Description:

PLANT: medium to strong vigour, upright growth habit, medium degree of branching, late season bud burst
ONE-YEAR OLD SHOOT: lenticels present, absent or very sparse pubescence, red brown bark, strong development of adventitious buds
SHOOT TIP: absent or sparse pubescence, absent or weak glossiness of bark, very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration

YOUNG LEAF: weak pubescence at base
LEAF BLADE: moderately elongated (length to width ratio 2:1), acute and obtuse apex, medium density pubescence on upper side, sparse to medium density pubescence on lower side, dark green on upper side in spring, light green on upper side in summer

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: late season
SEPAL: medium length, medium width
FLOWER: dense pubescence on corolla tube, horizontal to downwards attitude, style equal to slightly longer than anther

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: very late in the season
FRUIT: narrow to broad elliptic in cross-section, narrow to broad oblong in lateral view, calyx end is truncate and cordate, fruit tip is present, medium sized eye opening, surface is smooth, tufts of hairs at apex present
FRUIT SKIN: strong bloom, dark intensity of blue colour

Origin & Breeding History: 'Kuchi' originated from an open pollinated cross that occurred in Hokkaido, Japan in 2000 and was bred and developed by the breeder Dr. Maxine M. Thompson. The cross was made between female parent variety designated #8 and an unknown male parent. The resulting seeds were collected and sown in Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A. From the resulting seedlings, 'Kuchi' was selected as a single plant in 2004 based on its plant growth habit, plant vigour; fruit appearance, taste and yield. 'Kuchi' was first propagated by hardwood stem cuttings in 2004 in Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Kuchi' was conducted in the field and examined during the summer of 2018 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants each of the candidate variety and the reference variety 'Kapu' and 7 plants each of the reference varieties, 'Taka' and 'Borealis'. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted in the field on June 9, 2016. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, of each variety at various times throughout the summer of 2018. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Kuchi' with reference varieties 'Kapu', 'Taka' and 'Borealis'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Fruit length (mm)

Fruit width (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Blue Honeysuckle: 'Kuchi' (top left) with reference varieties 'Kapu' (top right), 'Taka' (bottom left) and 'Borealis' (bottom right)