Raspberry plant named ‘Dafne’

Abstract

A new a primocane raspberry cultivar named Dafne which produces glossy, strong red firm fruits is disclosed, with berries which are easy to pick due to low adherence to the plug. The new cultivar has the advantages of producing two crops per year, wherein the fruits equally ripen on the current season's cane in autumn and on the previous year's cane in summer.

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 Dafne 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 upright, tall and vigorous raspberry plants during the flowering.

(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 Dafne. 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 in Altopiano della Vigolana, Trentino Region (Italy) under natural conditions in plastic covered high tunnels. The growing was in soilless conditions using coir as substrate.

(7) The plant assessment was performed for 2 years. Botanical descriptions are for plants 16-18 months old.

(8) * Colour references made to R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (Edition V) Classification: Family.Rosaceae. Botanical.Rubus idaeus L. Common name.Raspberry. Parentage: Amaranta (mother) x unknown pollen (father). Plant: General habit.Upright canes; strong vigor; very good roots 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.). Suitable for being harvested both on current year's cane in autumn and on previous year's cane in summer. Average height (average).1.70-1.80 m. Spread (average).0.80 m. Shape.Conical. Vegetative bud length.6.0-8.0 mm. Primocane: Length (average).1.70-1.80 m. Diameter (average).1.0 cm. Texture.Smooth. Internode length (average) at 1 m height.5-6 cm. Number of fruiting laterals per cane (average).9. Number of current season's shoots.Medium. Young shoot colour.*RHS:144A. Cane colour.*RHS: N144C. Spines.Present. Floricane: Dormant cane colour.*RHS: 72A. Fruiting lateral attitude in summer.Semi erect. Spines: Shape.Shark fin. Size (average).1.50-1.70 mm. Density (average) at 1.2 m height.2.3-2.5 cm.sup.2. Colour.*RHS N77A. Foliage: Leaves.Shape: compound; odd-pinnate and subdivided in 3 cordate and serrate. Profile in cross section: slightly convex. Rugosity: medium. Complete leaft: Length: 34.2 cm. Width: 31.5 cm. Upper surface colour *RHA 141A. Lower surface colour *RHS 147D. Lateral leaflets: specular. Lateral leaflets average size: length: 15.4 cm. Width: 11.2 cm. Lateral leaflets apex shape: pointed. Lateral leaflets base shape: ovate. Lateral leaflets margin type: serrate. Terminal leaflets average size: length: 16.9 cm. width: 14.5 cm. Terminal leaflets apex shape: pointed. Terminal leaflets base shape: cordate. Terminal leaflets margin type: serrate. Petiole.Average length: 10.8 cm. Average diameter: 0.5 cm. Colour: *RHS 143D. Inflorescence: Average length.40.5 cm. Average diameter.33 cm. Flowers: Number per plant (average).Primocane: 160. Floricane: 195. Length (average).9.66 mm. Diameter (average).34.79 mm. Diameter (receptacle).11.29 mm. Shape.Pentagonal. Petal colour (upper surface).*RHS: NN155C. Petal colour (lower surface).*RHS: NN155C. Petal number (average).5. Petal shape.Obovate. Apex: rounded. Base: cuneate. Margin: entire. Sepal number (average).5. Colour (upper surface): *RHS: 144B. Colour (lower surface): *RHS: N144D. Length (average): 1.4 cm. Width (mid part): 0.7 cm. Fragrance.Absent. Blooming.Primocane: July-August. Floricane: April-May. Pedicel.Length (average): 2.6 cm. Fruit: Predominant shape.Broad conical. Weight.6.3 g. Size.Length: 2.3 cm. width: 2.6 cm. Colour of ripe fruit.*RHS: 50A. Colour of immature fruit.*RHS: 52D. Firmness.Firm (0.05 Kg). Drupes per fruit (average).140. Drupe size.Length: 4.07 mm. width: 3.5 mm. depth: 6.2 mm. Glossiness.High. Adherence to plug.Low. Titratable acidity.32.00 meq/hg. Soluble solids.9 Brix. Harvest season.Primocane: August to October. Floricane: half June-end July. Autumn yield.4 kg/m (4 plants/m). Summer yield.4.9 kg/m (4 plants/m). Use/market.Suitable for consumption as high grade fresh fruit and also amenable to processing. Keeping quality.The fruit colour tends to become darker during storage, but the high glossiness makes it attractive. Storage capacity (shelf life).Very good shelf-life. Shipping quality.Good; the attitude to storability permits shipping. Reproductive organs: Pistil number per flower (average).151. Pistil size (average).5.70 mm. Stamen number per flower (average).150. Stamen size (average).5.23 mm. Seeds: Size (average).Length: 2.83 mm. width: 1.71 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) and Lagorai Plus(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,636) LAGORAI Characteristic EVITA PLUS DAFNE fruit color Orange red Strong red strong red Fruit: glossiness low medium high Fruit shape elongated conical, conical broad conical, slight irregular very regular very regular Fruit picking Slight difficult Very easy very easy Autumn yield high low medium Summer yield high medium Dormant cane purple-brown moderate greyish-purple colour brown

(10) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison table between variety and the female parent Amaranta Amaranta (female Characteristic parent) Dafne Fruit color Medium red Strong red Fruit shape elongated conical Broad conical, very regular Fruit firmness Soft to medium firm Autumn yield Medium to high medium Summer yield low medium Fruit: glossiness Low high