Maravilla

Raspberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Madonna' and 'Heritage'

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the canes of 'Maravilla' is strong to very strong whereas it is weak to medium on 'Madonna' and medium to strong on 'Heritage'. The canes of 'Maravilla' are longer than those of 'Heritage'. The spines on 'Maravilla' are purple whereas they are purplish brown on 'Madonna' and brownish green on 'Heritage'. The leaves of 'Maravilla' have equally three and five leaflets per leaf whereas 'Madonna' and 'Heritage' have predominantly three leaflets per leaf. The peduncle of 'Maravilla' has strong anthocyanin colouration whereas it is weak on 'Madonna' and very weak on 'Heritage'. The fruit shape of 'Maravilla' is medium conical whereas it is trapezoidal on 'Madonna' and circular to broad conical on 'Heritage'. The single drupe of 'Maravilla' is large whereas it is small in 'Heritage'. 'Maravilla' begins ripening very late in the season with a short to medium length fruiting period whereas 'Heritage' begins ripening late with a medium to long fruiting period.

Description:

PLANT: arching growth habit, medium number of current season's canes, fruit bearing only on current year's cane in autumn, canes emerge late in season, short to medium length fruiting period
VERY YOUNG SHOOT: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration at apex during rapid growth

CURRENT SEASON'S CANE: weak waxiness, strong to very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium length internode, short to medium length vegetative bud
SPINES: present, very sparse density, very small to small base, short length, purple

LEAF: medium to dark green, equally three and five leaflets per leaf, convex profile in cross-section, strong rugosity, touching to overlapping lateral leaflets
PEDICEL: very few spines

BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: late
PEDUNCLE: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: small to medium size

BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: very late
FRUIT: long, medium width, medium length/width ratio, medium conical shape in lateral view, large sized single drupe, dark red, medium glossiness and firmness, medium adherence to plug

Origin & Breeding History: 'Maravilla' arose from the cross 'Q491.1' by 'Q480.3' made in 1996 at Cassin Ranch, Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, USA. Fruit and seed were collected to produce seedlings for field planting in 1996 in Watsonville, California. Selection criteria included yield, fruit size, firmness and post-harvest longevity.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Maravilla' were conducted in Oxford Station, Ontario during the 2011 growing season. There were 20 plants of each variety, planted in the spring of 2009. Plants were spaced approximately 60 cm apart in the row and spaced approximately 0.65 metres apart between rows. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison table for 'Maravilla' with reference varieties 'Madonna' and 'Heritage'

Current season's cane length (cm)

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Raspberry: 'Maravilla' (top left) with reference varieties 'Madonna' (top right) and 'Heritage' (bottom)

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Raspberry: 'Maravilla' (right) with reference variety 'Heritage' (left)