Raspberry plant named ‘Titania’

Abstract

A new a primocane raspberry cultivar named Titania which produces berries which are of a very large size with a good colour and flavour is disclosed. The new cultivar has the advantages of producing two crops per year, where the fruits mainly ripen on current season's cane in autumn.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of raspberry plant as substantially herein shown and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The new red raspberry cultivar Titania is illustrated by the accompanying photographs showing typical specimens of the new variety in colour as true as reasonably possible to make the same colour illustrations of this character by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are from four to six months old.

(2) FIG. 1 is a view showing the raspberry plant with growing fruits. The upright and tall plants with very vigorous lateral shoots, mainly present on the apical part of the plant, can be appreciated.

(3) FIG. 2 is a view showing the leaf upper and lower surfaces.

(4) FIG. 3 is a view showing the plant primocane internode length, cane colour and thorns.

(5) FIG. 4 is a view showing the ripe fruit size and shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The following detailed description set forth the distinctive characteristics of the new variety Titania. The performance of the new cultivar for retention of its distinctive characteristics has been evaluated through successive asexual propagations by root cutting in the Applicant's setting at Altopiano della Vigolana, Trentino Region (Italy) under natural conditions in plastic covered high tunnel. The growing was in soilless conditions using coir as substrate.

(7) * Colour references made to R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (Edition V)

(8) The plant assessment was performed for 2 years. Botanical descriptions are for plants 4-6 months old. Classification: Family.Rosaceae. Botanical.Rubus idaeus L. Common name.Raspberry. Parentage: Vajolet Plus x wild mountain raspberry plant. Plant: General habit.Upright canes; very strong vigor; very good root system; adapted to medium winter chill conditions such as those at Altopiano della Vigolana (average min temperature 1 C.; average max temperature 5 C.); quite resilient to summer heat (average min temperature 13 C.; average max temperature 27 C.); high productivity in autumn. Average height (average).2.00-2.20 m. Spread (average).0.90 m. Shape.Vase. Vegetative bud length.Medium 4.0-6.0 mm. Primocane: Length (average).2.0-2.20 m. Diameter (average) at 1.0 m height.1.1-1.2 cm. Texture.Smooth. Internode length (average) at 1 m height.Medium to long: 6.8-7.3 cm. Number of fruiting laterals per cane (average).9-10. Young shoot colour.* RHS: 140A. Cane colour.* RHS: 140B. Spines.Present/absent: present. Spines: Shape.Narrow conical. Size (average).1.00-1.30 mm. Density (average) at 1.2 m height.3-4 per cm.sup.2. Colour.* RHS 172A. Foliage: Leaves.Shape: compound; odd-pinnate and subdivided in 3-5 ovate and serrate small leaflets. Predominant profile in cross section: flat. Rugosity: low. Complete leaf: Length: 32.4 cm. Width: 29.3 cm. Number of leaflets: 3-5. Upper surface colour: *RHS: 141B. Lower surface colour: *RHS 137D. Lateral leaflets: Specular. Lateral leaflets average size: Length:14.1 cm. Width: 9.5 cm. Lateral leaflets apex shape: pointed. Lateral leaflets base shape: ovate. Lateral leaflets margin type: serrate. Terminal leaflets average size: Length: 14.9 cm. Width: 11.0 cm. Terminal leaflets apex shape: pointed. Terminal leaflets base shape: slightly cordate. Terminal leaflets margin type: serrate. Petiole.Average length: 9.0 cm. Average diameter: 0.4 cm. Colour: *RHS 138C. Inflorescence: Average length.63 cm. Average diameter.28.5 cm. Flowers: Number per plant (average).213. Length (average).8.87 mm. Diameter (average).27.78 mm. Diameter (receptacle).7.75 mm. Shape.Pentagonal. Petal colour (upper surface).*RHS: NN155D. Petal colour (lower surface).*RHS: NN155D. Petal number (average).5. Petal shape.Obovate. Apex: rounded. Base: cuneate. Margin: entire. Sepal number (average).5. Colour (upper surface): *RHS: 144D. Colour (lower surface): *RHS: 142D. Length (average): 1.5 cm. Width (mid part): 0.6 cm. Fragrance.Absent. Blooming.July-August. Fruit: Predominant shape.Conical. Weight.6.2 g. Size.Length: 3.0 cm. Width: 2.5 cm. Colour of ripe fruit.* RHS: 40B. Colour of immature fruit.*RHS: 39D. Firmness.Medium (0.04 Kg). Drupes per fruit (average).109. Drupe size.Length: 4.90 mm. Width: 4.46 mm. Depth: 6.49 mm. Glossiness.Medium to low. Adherence to plug.Medium. Titratable acidity.26.03 meq/hg. Soluble solids.8.3 Brix. Yield.4.9 kg linear/m (3 plants/m). Main bearing type.On current year's cane in autumn from half August to late October. Use/market.Suitable for consumption as high grade fresh fruit and also amenable to processing. Keeping quality.The fruit colour tends to become darker and soft during storage in case of late harvest. Storage capacity (shelf life).Good shelf-life. Shipping quality.Good; the attitude to storability permits shipping. Reproductive organs: Pistil number per flower (average).120. Pistil size (average).5.17 mm. Stamen number per flower (average).95. Stamen size (average).5.07 mm. Seeds: Size (average).Length: 3.90 mm. Width: 2.43 mm. Shape.Kidney-shaped.

Comparison with Commercial Cultivar

(9) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison table between variety and commercial cultivar Evita (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,695) Characteristic EVITA TITANIA fruit color Orange red Red fruit size Medium-large Very large plant vigor vigorous Very vigorous Plant (size/vigour) high Very high

(10) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison table with female parental cultivar Characteristic VAJOLET PLUS TITANIA fruit color Reddish orange Red Plant vigour vigorous Very very vigorous Fruit: firmness medium to firm medium Fruit size Medium-large Very large Fruit flavour Very aromatic Light aroma Primocane yield low Very high