Erika

Raspberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Polka'

Summary: The plants of 'Erika' have a semi-upright growth habit whereas those of 'Polka' have an upright growth habit. The spines on the current season's cane of 'Erika' are short whereas those of 'Polka' are very short. The leaf of 'Erika' is medium to dark green whereas it is light green for 'Polka'. 'Erika' has a medium number of spines on the pedicel whereas 'Polka' has very few to few. The fruit of 'Erika' is long whereas it is of medium length on 'Polka'. In lateral view, the profile of the fruit of 'Erika' is trapezoidal whereas it is broad conical for 'Polka'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, fruit bearing only on current season's cane in autumn

VERY YOUNG SHOOT DURING RAPID GROWTH: no anthocyanin colouration on middle third and apex

CURRENT SEASON'S CANE: emerges mid to late season, few in number, absent or very weak bloom, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium internode length, short vegetative bud, flowering begins late in season, fruit ripening begins late in season, fruiting period lasts a medium to long time
SPINE ON CURRENT SEASON'S CANE: medium density, small base, short, purplish brown
LEAF ON CURRENT SEASON'S CANE: medium to dark green on upper side, predominantly three leaflets
LEAFLET ON CURRENT SEASON'S CANE: medium rugosity, lateral leaflets touching

PEDUNCLE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
PEDICEL: medium number of spines
FLOWER: medium size

FRUIT: long, medium to wide, medium to large length to width ratio, trapezoidal shape in lateral view, single drupe is medium to large, medium red colour, medium to strong glossiness, firm, medium to strong adherence to plug

Origin & Breeding History: 'Erika' originated from the cross of the female parent 'Autumn Bliss' with an unknown male parent in Trentino, Italy in 2002. 'Erika' was asexually propagated by root cuttings in Trentino, Italy since May 2007. The variety underwent propagation and continued testing for 3 years. Selection criteria included the bearing type, fruit colour, flavour, size and firmness, tolerance to pests and diseases as well as yield performance and fruit quality in comparison to other old and new raspberry selections.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Erika' was conducted in a field at Novafruit Inc. in Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford, Quebec during the 2015 growing season. In May of 2014, bareroot seedlings obtained from mother plants were planted in containers and grown for one year. In May of 2015, fifty well-rooted plants of 'Erika' were transplanted into 27 cm diameter containers whereas six well-rooted plants of 'Polka' were transplanted into 18 cm by 48 cm containers, both container types were of similar volume to accommodate the shape of the different root masses. Plants were container grown outdoors under a shade cloth using a trellis system for support. Rows were spaced 1.2 metres apart. Measured characteristics were based on 10 plants or parts of plants for the candidate variety and 6 plants or parts of plants of the reference variety.

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Raspberry: 'Erika' (left) with the reference variety 'Polka' (right)

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Raspberry: 'Erika' (left) with the reference variety 'Polka' (right)