Blackberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlackEighteen’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named DrisBlackEighteen, particularly characterized by plant health, fruit size, lack of spines, and productivity, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant designated DrisBlackEighteen 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, 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 DrisBlackEighteen at various stages of development.

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

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

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a plant of variety DrisBlackEighteen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of DrisBlackEighteen. The data that define these characteristics are based on observations taken in Santa Cruz County, Calif. for 11 years. 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. DrisBlackEighteen has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of DrisBlackEighteen 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.DrisBlackEighteen. Parentage: Female parent.DrisBlackTwo (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,002). Male parent.BH936.7 (unpatented). Plant: Propagation.Root cuttings. Growth habit.Upright to semi-upright. Plant height.221 cm. Plant width.76 cm. Canes: Fruiting lateral length (4.sup.th lateral from tip).54.7 cm. Number of fruits per fruiting lateral.12. Internodal distance.7.6 cm. Dormant cane.Anthocyanin coloration: RHS 147A (Moderate olive green). Predominant distribution of branches: Over whole length. Cross-section: Angular. Presence of spines: Absent. Dormant cane diameter: 1.4 cm. Dormant cane texture: Smooth. Dormant cane intensity of green color: RHS 137A (Moderate olive green). Young shoots: Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth).RHS 181A (Moderate red). Intensity of green color.RHS 147B (Moderate yellow-green). Young shoot length.26 cm. Young shoot diameter.1.2 cm. Young shoot texture.Smooth. Leaves: Terminal leaflet.Length: 111.7 mm. Width: 91.0 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.2. Lobing: Absent. Shape in cross-section: V-shaped. Undulation of margin: Weak. Lateral leaflets (basal pair).Length: 94.2 mm. Width: 65.8 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.4. Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral leaflets.39.2 mm. Petiole.Length: 6.4 mm. Diameter: 2.1 mm. Leaflet.Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate. Leaflet shape: Oblong to oval. Leaflet texture: Smooth to hairy. Leaflet color of lower side: RHS 138B (Moderate yellow-green). Leaf.Predominant number of leaflets: 5 for primocane leaves; 3 for floricane leaves. Type: Palmate. Intensity of green color of upper side: RHS 147A (Moderate olive green). Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Leaf venation pattern: Fan. Leaf vein color: RHS 148D (Greyish yellow-green). Stipule.Stipule length: 1.6 cm. Stipule width: 0.3 cm. Stipule texture: Smooth. Stipule color: RHS 143B (Strong yellow-green). Flowers: Diameter.53.70 mm. Petal.Length: 30.00 mm. Width: 15.50 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.9. Petal texture: Silky smooth. Petal margin: Smooth. Petal color of upper side: RHS 155A (Pale yellow-green). Petal color of lower side: RHS 155A (Pale yellow-green). Number of flowers observed at 3.sup.rd node from tip of lateral.3. Number of flowers per panicle.7. Presence of flower fragrance.Absent. Pedicel.Length: 58.20 mm. Diameter: 1.76 mm. Sepal.Sepal length: 1.4 cm. Sepal width: 0.6 cm. Sepal texture: Hairy. Sepal color: RHS 138C (Moderate yellow-green). Stigma.Stigma length: 0.25 mm. Stigma width: 0.25 mm. Stigma shape: Bottle cap-shaped. Stigma color: RHS 145C (Light yellow-green). Style.Style length: 4 mm. Style width: 0.25 mm. Style shape: Straw-shaped. Style color: RHS 146C (Moderate yellow-green). Ovary.Ovary length: 1 mm. Ovary width: 0.75 mm. Ovary shape: Seed-shaped. Ovary color: RHS 143B (Strong yellow-green). Stamen.Stamen length: 10 mm. Stamen width: 0.25 mm. Stamen shape: Tube-shaped. Stamen color: RHS 150D (Light yellow-green). Anther.Anther length: 0.25 mm. Anther width: 0.25 mm. Anther shape: Grain-shaped. Anther color: RHS 150D (Light yellow-green). Pollen.Pollen diameter: 0.001 mm. Pollen shape: Spherical. Pollen color: RHS 4D (Pale yellow-green). Peduncle.Peduncle diameter: 30 mm. Peduncle color: RHS 144A (Strong yellow-green). Flower bud.Date of bud burst: February 1. Bud length: 7 mm. Bud width: 5 mm. Bud shape: Spire-shaped. Bud color: RHS 148B (Moderate yellow-green). Time of beginning of flowering.Early May. Duration of flowering.6-8 weeks. Fruit: Length of mature fruit.24.31 mm. Diameter of mature fruit.19.30 mm. Ratio of length to width.1.3. Shape in longitudinal section.Elliptic. Color.RHS 203A (Black). Fruiting on current year's cane.Absent. Yield.11,239 kg/acre to 13,854 kg/acre of fruit per season from 48-month-old plants when grown in Santa Cruz County, Calif. Druplet.Druplet diameter: 2 mm. Number of druplets per fruit: 94. Seed.Seed length: 2 mm. Seed width: 1 mm. Seed texture: Rough. Seed color: RHS 156A (Yellowish grey). Fruit weight.5.6 grams. Date of first fruit pick.February 1. Date of last fruit pick.August 5. Market use of fruit.Fresh consumption. Shipping and storage characteristics.Following harvest, fruit can be stored/shipped for 7 days under cooled temperatures standard for blackberry storage. Resistance to diseases, pests, and abiotic stress: Redberry mite (Acalitus essigi).Susceptible. Powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis).Moderately resistant. Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum).Resistant. Verticillium wilt (Verticillium spp.).Susceptible. Winter hardiness.Moderate. Drought tolerance.Moderate. Heat tolerance.Moderate.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

(7) DrisBlackEighteen differs from the proprietary female parent DrisBlackTwo (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,002) in that fruit of DrisBlackEighteen are larger in size and are more firm than fruit of DrisBlackTwo. Moreover, fruit production of DrisBlackEighteen is earlier than that of DrisBlackTwo.

(8) DrisBlackEighteen differs from the proprietary male parent BH936.7 (unpatented) in that fruit of DrisBlackEighteen are larger in size and are more firm than fruit of BH936.7. Moreover, DrisBlackEighteen breaks dormancy earlier as compared to BH936.7.

(9) DrisBlackEighteen differs from commercial variety DrisBlackSix (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,502) in that DrisBlackEighteen has an upright to semi-upright growth habit, an angular cross section of dormant cane, a V-shaped terminal leaflet in cross-section, and an elliptic fruit shape in longitudinal section. In contrast, DrisBlackSix has a semi-upright growth habit, a rounded to angular cross section of dormant cane, a U-shaped terminal leaflet in cross-section, and a narrow ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section.

(10) DrisBlackEighteen differs from commercial variety Driscoll Carmel (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,058) in that DrisBlackEighteen has an upright to semi-upright growth habit, no spines on dormant canes, and an elliptic fruit shape in longitudinal section. In contrast, Driscoll Carmel has a semi-upright growth habit, spines present on dormant canes, and an ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section.