Blackberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named DrisBlackTwentyOne, selected for its early production, flavor, and fruit size, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant designated DrisBlackTwentyOne as shown and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show fruit of the plant, flowers, a leaf, a cane, and a plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are three years old,

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates typical fruit of variety DrisBlackTwentyOne at various stages of development.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates typical flowers of variety DrisBlackTwentyOne at various stages of development.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a typical leaf of variety DrisBlackTwentyOne.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a typical cane with leaves of variety DrisBlackTwentyOneOne.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a typical cane without leaves of variety DrisBlackTwentyOneOne.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a plant of variety DrisBlackTwentyOne.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of DrisBlackTwentyOne. The data that define these characteristics are based on observations taken in Los Reyes, Mexico from 2011 to 2019. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. DrisBlackTwentyOne has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of DrisBlackTwentyOne was taken from plants that were three years old. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition), Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2.sup.nd edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined. Classification: Family.Rosaceae. Botanical.Rubus L. subgenus Rubus. Common name.Blackberry. Variety name.DrisBlackTwentyOne. Parentage: Female parent.DrisBlackFive (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,701). Male parent.BM656.4 (unpatented). Plant: Propagation.Root cuttings. Growth habit.Semi-upright. Canes: Fruiting lateral length (4.sup.th lateral from tip).21.18 cm. Number of fruits per fruiting lateral.6.9. Internodal distance.4.49 cm. Dormant cane.Anthocyanin coloration: Absent or very weak. Predominant distribution of branches: Over whole length. Cross-section: Rounded to angular. Presence of spines: Present. Attitude of spine apex in relation to cane: Downwards. Young shoots: Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth).RHS 184B (Purple). Intensity of green color.RHS 141.E (Strong bluish green). Leaves: Terminal leaflet.Length: 85.9 mm. Width: 72.7 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.18. Lobing: Absent. Shape in cross-section: V-shaped. Undulation of margin: Strong. Shape of apex: Acute. Shape of base: Cordate. Lateral leaflets (basal pair).Length: 55.8 mm. Width: 42.5 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.31. Shape of apex: Acute. Shape of base: Rounded. Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral leaflets.26.4 mm. Petiole.Length: 55.4 mm. Diameter: 3.4 mm. Pigmentation of upper side: RHS 143A (Strong green). Pigmentation of underside: RHS 143C (Strong yellowish green). Leaflet.Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate. Leaf.Predominant number of leaflets: 5. Type: Palmate. Intensity of green color of upper side: RHS 139A (Dark green). Intensity of green color of underside: RHS 137A (Greyish green). Texture of upper surface: Medium rough. Texture of lower surface: Soft medium. Venation pattern: Dichotomous. Vein color: RHS 145A (Strong yellow-green). Flowers: Diameter.31.61 mm. Petal.Length: 16.40 mm. Width: 10.70 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.53. Color: RHS 155C (Pinkish white) on both upper and lower surfaces of the petal. Number of petals per flower: 5. Petal shape: Obovate. Margin: Crenate. Shape of apex: Ovate. Shape of base: Cuspidate. Number of flowers observed at 3.sup.rd node from tip of lateral.3.9. Sepal.Number of sepals per flower: 5. Color of upper side: RHS 144D (Light yellow-green). Color of lower side: RHS 145B (Light yellow-green). Length: 5.41 mm. Width: 2.71 mm. Pedicel.Length: 26.82 mm. Diameter: 1.73 mm. Color: RHS 143D (Moderate yellow-green). Stigma.Length: 0.021 mm. Width: 0.019 mm. Shape: Capitate. Color: RHS 143C (Strong yellow-green). Style.Length: 1.72 mm. Width: 0.12 mm. Shape: Elongate. Color: RHS 143C (Strong yellow-green). Ovary.Length: 0.010 mm. Width: 0.08 mm. Shape: Capitate. Color: RHS 157B (Pale yellow-green). Stamen.Length: 3.6 mm. Width: 0.23 mm. Shape: Tetradynamous. Color: RHS 145C (Light yellow-green). Anther.Length: 0.90 mm. Width: 0.87 mm. Shape: Globose. Color: RHS 145C (Light yellow-green). Pollen.Diameter: 0.0004 mm. Shape: Prolate. Color: RHS 145C (Light yellow-green). Fruit: Length of mature fruit.35.72 mm. Diameter of mature fruit.24.63 mm. Ratio of length to width.1.4. Average number of drupelets per fruit.108. Fruit weight.9.5 g/fruit. Soluble Solids (in Brix).15.2%. Titratable acidity (as citric acid).0.92%. Seed weight.0.003 g/seed. Shape in longitudinal section.Medium ovate. Immature fruit color.RHS 146A (Dark green). Maturing fruit color.RHS 185A (Deep reddish purple). Mature fruit color.RHS 202A (Black). Fruiting on current year's cane.Absent. Harvest interval on previous year's cane.Early October to mid-June. Yield.10,366 kg/hectare to 19,612 kg/hectare of fruit per season from 9-month-old plants when grown in Ciudad Guzman, Mexico. Market use of fruit.Fresh market. Shipping and storage characteristics.Following harvest, fruit can be stored for 8 days if maintained under cooled temperatures (e.g. 2 C.) that are standard for blackberry storage. Resistance to diseases: Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum).Resistant.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

(9) DrisBlackTwentyOne differs from the female parent DrisBlackFive (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,701) in that DrisBlackTwentyOne has higher yield potential compared to DrisBlackFive. Moreover, DrisBlackTwentyOne differs from the female parent DrisBlackFive in that DrisBlackTwentyOne has absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration on dormant cane, a palmate type of leaf, and fruiting on previous year's cane only. In contrast, DrisBlackFive has strong anthocyanin coloration on dormant cane, an odd-pinnate type of leaf, and fruiting on both previous year's cane and current year's cane.

(10) DrisBlackTwentyOne differs from the proprietary male parent BM656.4 (unpatented) in that DrisBlackTwentyOne is spiny while BM656.4 is spineless. Moreover, DrisBlackTwentyOne has higher vigor than BM656.4.

(11) DrisBlackTwentyOne differs from commercial variety Tupy (also spelled Tupi, unpatented) in that DrisBlackTwentyOne has absent or few number of glandular hairs on young shoot, a V shape of terminal leaflet in cross-section, a medium fruit length to width ratio, and a medium ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section. In contrast, Tupy has a medium number of glandular hairs on young shoot, a U shape of terminal leaflet in cross-section, a small fruit length to width ratio, and a circular to medium ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section.

(12) DrisBlackTwentyOne differs from commercial variety DrisBlackSeventeen (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,291) in that DrisBlackTwentyOne has a downwards attitude of spine apex in relation to dormant cane, a predominant distribution of branches over whole length of dormant cane, absent or few number of glandular hairs on young shoot, and a very long length of fruit. In contrast, DrisBlackSeventeen has an upwards attitude of spine apex in relation to dormant cane, a predominant distribution of branches only on upper half of dormant cane, many glandular hairs on young shoot, and a medium length of fruit.