Rubus Plant Named 'Skye'

Abstract

A new cultivar of Rubus idaeus plant named Skye that is characterized by its canes that have thorns that are red in color, its canes that require low chill hours to flower, its fruits that have a glossy surface, and its summer floricane fruit production and very late autumn primocane fruit production.

Claims

1: A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus idaeus plant named Skye as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Rubus. The photographs were taken of plants 24 months in age as as grown in a polytunnel in a 10-liter container in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.

[0016] The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of developed and undeveloped fruit on a branch of Skye.

[0017] The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of developed and undeveloped fruit on a branch of Skye.

[0018] The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a single berry of Skye.

[0019] The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Rubus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

[0020] The following is a detailed description of plants 24 months in age as grown in a polytunnel in 10-liter containers in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. [0021] General description: [0022] Plant type.Fruit is produced on the primocane in late autumn and also in the following summer on the remaining floricane, a double cropping genotype. [0023] Plant habit.Upright with straight long canes. [0024] Height and spread.An average of 2.37 m in height and 22 cm in spread as grown in a 10-liter container. [0025] Hardiness.This trait has not been fully characterized in a range of cold weather climates, but the plants can successfully grow in western Europe (UK Hardiness Zone 7). [0026] Diseases and pests.Resistance to large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora idaei) and raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) after 4 years of testing. [0027] Root description.Vigorous root, prolific spawn production. [0028] Branching habit.None. [0029] Propagation.Root cuttings or tissue culture. [0030] Root development.An average of 2 weeks to initiate roots, an average of 6 months to fully develop as a plant with 3 canes that are 2 m in height. [0031] Growth rate.Moderate. [0032] Cane description: [0033] Cane size.An average of 2.37 m in length and an average of 11.2 mm in width. [0034] Cane internode length.Up to 6.1 cm. [0035] Cane shape and aspect.Angled. [0036] Cane strength.Moderately strong to strong. [0037] Cane color.New canes; 144B and heavily suffused with 186A, mature canes; 165A with internodes 165A. [0038] Thorns.1 mm in length, 167A in color, distance between spines ranging between 1 mm to 3 mm in length. [0039] Stem surface.Glabrous with spines. [0040] Stipules.2 per petiole, leafy; narrowly elliptic in shape, an average of 7.2 mm in length and >1 mm in width, apex narrowly acute, cuneate base, upper and lower surface color 144C. [0041] Primocane.Develops in late spring and initiates flower buds in late summer and develops fruit in year 1 on the top 30% of cane. [0042] Foliage description: [0043] Time of vegetative bud burst.Early season (early March in Scotland, United Kingdom). [0044] Leaf shape.Ovate to rhomboid. [0045] Leaf arrangement.1 terminal and 1 to 2 lateral pairs. [0046] Leaf division.1 to 3. [0047] Leaf attachment.Petiolate. [0048] Leaf orientation.Flat to pendant. [0049] Leaf size.An average of 14.7 cm in length and 20 cm in width. [0050] Leaflet shape.Ovate and rhomboid. [0051] Leaflet base.Ranging between ovate, deltoid and rhomboid. [0052] Leaflet apex.Acute. [0053] Leaflet venation.Pinnate, primarily matches leaf color on upper surface and lower surface. [0054] Leaflet margins.Serrate. [0055] Leaflet arrangement.1 terminal and 1 to 2 lateral pairs. [0056] Leaflet attachment.Primarily sessile. [0057] Relative position of lateral leaflet.Non-overlapping to slightly overlapping at base. [0058] Profile of leaflet cross-section.Slightly concave. [0059] Leaflet surface.Upper and lower surface rugose, spine along lower side of mid-rib on lower surface of terminal leaflet 1 mm in length. [0060] Leaflet color.Young; upper surface 134A, lower surface 143D, mature; upper surface 144A, lower surface 143D, no change in autumn. [0061] Leaflet size.An average of 13.1 cm in length and 16.9 cm in width. [0062] Petioles.Round in shape, an average of 5.5 cm in length and 2 mm in width, upper surface 144B, suffused with 181C, lower surface 144D, strong. [0063] Rachis.Round in shape, an average of 3.25 cm in length and 2 mm in width on lower laterals and 1.5 cm in length and 2 mm in width on upper laterals, upper surface 144B, lower surface 144D, occasional spines 1 mm in length and 185A in color. [0064] Inflorescence description: [0065] Blooming period.Primocanes flower late August to late September for 5 weeks, floricanes flower late May to early July for 5 weeks in Scotland, United Kingdom. [0066] Inflorescence.Panicle, upper plant an average of 36.1 cm in length, lower plant 23.25 cm in length. [0067] Peduncle.Oval in shape, an average of 1.8 cm in length and 1.5 mm in width, upright habit, color upper surface 53A, color lower surface 142C. [0068] Pedicels.Round in shape, 53A in color, an average of 1.7 cm in length and 1 to 2 mm in width, strong in strength, held in multiple angles between 90 to 180 to peduncle. [0069] Flower buds.Nearly orbicular in shape, average of 7 mm in length and 6.4 mm in diameter, color; immature sepals 144A to 144B, petals NN155D, surface petal portion glabrous. [0070] Flower type.Spreading calyx with center of numerous stamens and with numerous pistols, petals quickly shed upon opening. [0071] Flower number.An average of 20 to 27 flowers per lateral. [0072] Flower fragrance.None. [0073] Flower size.Average of 5 mm in height and 7 mm in diameter. [0074] Sepals.5, an average of 6 mm in length and 5 mm in width, broadly ovate to near deltoid in shape, base broad cuneate, apex aristate, entire margin, color when opening and mature 144B on upper surface and 143C on lower surface. [0075] Petals.5, an average of 7 mm in length, 3 mm in width, base cuneate, apex obtuse, entire margin with medium undulation, glabrous and matte on upper and lower surfaces, color; when opening and fully open upper and lower surface NN155D. [0076] Bracts.Ovate at base of pedicel, leafy; narrow elliptic in shape, an average of 10.8 cm in length and 1.2 cm in width, apex narrow acute, cuneate base, entire margin, color both surfaces 144A. [0077] Androecium.Stamens; an average of 93, filaments; 3 mm in length, NN155D in color, anthers; 1 mm in length, >1 mm in width, 11C in color, pollen; moderate in quantity. [0078] Gynoecium.Pistils; 110, average of 5 to 7 mm in length, stigmas; cup-shaped, >1 mm in length and diameter, 11C in color, style; 4 mm in length, 11C in color, ovary; 11C in color. [0079] Fruit description: [0080] Fruit number.An average of 18 to 25 per lateral. [0081] Fruit size.An average of 3.4 cm in length and 2.4 cm in diameter. [0082] Fruit shape.Broad conical. [0083] Fruit texture.Slightly dry and smooth, not seedy. [0084] Druplets.An average of 134 per berry, 6 mm in length and 4 mm in width. [0085] Seed.Reniform in shape, average of 77 per fruit, 2.8 mm in length, 1 mm in width, 27D in color. [0086] Cropping frequency.Annually, on floricanes and primocanes. [0087] Harvest dates.Typically a first harvest date of 4.sup.st of October and a last harvest date of the 4th November (primocane), 10th of July to the 15th of August (floricane). [0088] Flavor.Sweet with low acidity, fruity aroma. [0089] Fruit weight.6.5 g/fruit (Primocane). [0090] Brix.10.5 to 12. [0091] Titratable acidity.8.2%. [0092] Shelf life.An average of 7 to 10 days after picking. [0093] Market use.Fresh fruit.