Blackberry plant named ‘Celestial’

Abstract

A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed produced from a cross between the thornless semi-erect maternal blackberry plant ‘Eclipse’ and the thorny erect paternal blackberry plant ORUS 3681-1, the latter of which introduces genetics from cultivated and wild Rubus germplasm from the southeastern U.S. This new blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by its high plant vigor, exceptional yields of small-to-medium sized berries with high gloss, low defects, excellent flavor and fruit quality, and high heat tolerance. The berries are well suited for fresh eating, with good sweetness, aroma, and gloss when picked firm. The new and distinct blackberry variety has fruit that are borne on vigorous canes which contain the ‘Merton Thornless’ source of genetic thornlessness.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of thornless blackberry plant named ‘CELESTIAL’, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its plant vigor, heat tolerance, and exceptional yields of medium sized berries with good fresh eating quality, flavor, gloss, and low defects.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs that show the plants, ripening fruit morphology, and harvested fruit; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a fruiting cluster with ripe ‘Celestial’ fruit.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a close-up example of the morphology of ‘Celestial’ fruit and how it appears on the plant during ripening.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a clamshell of ‘Celestial’ fruit after 7 days of refrigerated storage at ˜4° C. (right) compared to a clamshell of ‘Chester Thornless’ fruit (left).

(5) FIG. 4 shows a flat of harvested ‘Celestial’ fruit (right) compared to a flat of ‘Chester Thornless’ fruit (left).

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plot of entire 3 year old ‘Celestial’ plants during flowering season in early July.

(7) FIG. 6 shows the morphology of a ‘Celestial’ flower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

(8) The following description of ‘Celestial’ is based on observations taken from 2016 to 2020 growing seasons in trials in Corvallis and Aurora, Oreg. 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. ‘Celestial’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. London (R.H.S.) (5.sup.th edition, 2007).

(9) Table 1 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of the blackberry plant ‘Twilight’. Characteristics include plant vigor, growth habit, date of bud-break, presence of spines further than 0.6 m from the soil surface, presence of spines less than 0.6 m from the soil surface, weight of primary fruit, uniformity of berry shape, fruit firmness, fruit flavor, fruit soluble solids (%; in Brix), fruit pH, fruit titratable acidity (% as citric acid), and yield (actual kg.Math.plt-1). Fruit measurements are from 2020 trial data collected from OSU-NWREC (Aurora, Oreg.).

(10) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic Celestial Twilight Plant vigor Very High High Growth habit Semi-erect Semi-erect Date of budbreak Week 2, Week 1, March (2022) March (2022) Presence of spines further than Absent Absent 0.6 m from the soil surface Presence of spines less than Absent Absent 0.6 m from the soil surface Weight of primary fruit 6.3 g 8.4 g Uniformity of berry shape Very good Excellent Fruit firmness Very good Very good Fruit flavor Very Good Excellent Fruit soluble solids (%; in Brix) 13.01 14.53 Fruit pH 3.70 3.64 Fruit titratable acidity 10.10 10.90 (% as citric acid) Yield (actual kg .Math. plt-1) 10.64 6.26

(11) Table 2 shows floricane and mature primocane characteristics of the new cultivar compared with floricane and mature primocane characteristics of the blackberry plant ‘Twilight’. Characteristics include diameter at base, diameter at midpoint, diameter at terminus, internode length at base, internode length at midpoint, internode length at terminus, presence of spines further than 0.6 m from the soil surface, presence of spines less than 0.6 m from the soil surface, floricane color at base, floricane color at midpoint, floricane color at terminus, floricane lateral length, floricane lateral strength, primocane color at base, primocane color at midpoint, primocane color at terminus, and floricane length (range).

(12) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic Celestial Twilight Diameter at base 1.74 cm 2.00 cm Diameter at midpoint 1.27 cm 1.23 cm Diameter at terminus 0.37 cm 0.37 cm Internode length at base 8.58 cm 11.93 cm  Internode length at midpoint 8.72 cm 2.87 cm Internode length at terminus 4.01 cm 2.87 cm Presence of spines further than Absent Absent 0.6 m from the soil surface Presence of spines less than Absent Absent 0.6 m from the soil surface Floricane color at base RHS 144B RHS 146A Floricane color at midpoint RHS 183B RHS 144A w/ RHS 175A tint Floricane color at terminus RHS 144A RHS 144A Floricane lateral length Medium-long Medium Floricane lateral strength Medium Medium Primocane color at base RHS N199D + 77A RHS 144A Primocane color at midpoint RHS 184A + RHS 144A w/ N144A RHS 176A streaks Primocane color at terminus RHS 144A RHS 144A w/ RHS 185A tint Floricane length (range) NA (semi-erect NA (semi-erect mgmt.) mgmt.)

(13) Table 3 shows primocane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar (no primocane foliage information is available for program semi-erect cultivar standard ‘Twilight’). Primocane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, mature compound leaf length, number of leaflets per primocane compound leaf, mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, mature terminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature first lateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leaflet margin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width at base, spine presence on leaves, pubescence on primocane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence on primocane leaflet: undersurface, primocane leaf color abaxial, primocane leaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiole color: upper surface, petiole color: undersurface, petiolule length: terminal leaflet, petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolule color: abaxial, petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, and stipule width.

(14) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic Celestial Mature compound leaf width 17.83 cm  Mature compound leaf length 15.35 cm  Number of leaflets per primocane Usually 3-5 compound leaf Mature leaflet shape Ovate Mature leaflet apex Broadly acuminate Mature leaflet base Acute Mature terminal leaflet width 5.78 cm Mature terminal leaflet length 8.25 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width 5.00 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length 7.68 cm Leaflet margin Double serrate Leaflet serration teeth length 0.30 cm Leaflet serration teeth width at 0.14 cm base Spine presence on leaves Absent Pubescence on primocane leaflet: None upper surface Pubescence on primocane leaflet: Medium undersurface Primocane leaf color abaxial RHS 147B Primocane leaf color adaxial RHS 147A Petiole length 6.27 cm Petiole color: upper surface RHS 177B Petiole color: undersurface RHS 177A Petiolule length: terminal leaflet 3.42 cm Petiolule length: first distal leaflet 2.37 cm Petiolule color: abaxial RHS 144D Petiolule color: adaxial RHS 177A Stipule length 1.91 cm Stipule width 0.46 cm Dormant cane average length 382.5 cm  Dormant cane average diameter 17.33 (base) 12.4 (midpoint) Dormant cane intensity of Strong anthocyanin Dormant cane number of 8.3 branches Dormant cane cross section shape Rounded to angular

(15) Table 4 shows floricane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar compared with floricane foliage characteristics of the blackberry plant ‘Twilight’. Floricane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, mature compound leaf length, number of leaflets per floricane compound leaf, mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, mature terminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature first lateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leaflet margin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width at base, spine presence on leaves, pubescence on floricane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence on floricane leaflet: undersurface, floricane leaf color abaxial, floricane leaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiole color: upper surface, petiole color: undersurface, petiolule length: terminal leaflet, petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolule color: abaxial, petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, and stipule width.

(16) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Characteristic Celestial Twilight Mature compound leaf width 16.55 cm  16.65 cm  Mature compound leaf length 14.30 cm  13.44 cm  Number of leaflets per primocane Usually 3-5 Usually 3 compound leaf Mature leaflet shape Ovate Ovate Mature leaflet apex Broadly acuminate Acute Mature leaflet base Acute Roundly truncate Mature terminal leaflet width 6.97 cm 7.25 cm Mature terminal leaflet length 9.90 cm 9.25 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width 4.83 cm 6.43 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length 8.62 cm 8.52 cm Leaflet margin Double serrate Serrated Leaflet serration teeth length 0.38 cm 0.33 cm Leaflet serration teeth width at 0.25 cm 0.38 cm base Spine presence on leaves Absent Absent Pubescence on primocane leaflet: None Light upper surface Pubescence on primocane leaflet: Medium Heavy, dense undersurface Primocane leaf color abaxial RHS 147B RHS 137A Primocane leaf color adaxial RHS N137A RHS 138B Petiole length 4.03 cm 5.72 cm Petiole color: upper surface RHS 146 D RHS 165A Petiole color: undersurface RHS 146 D RHS N144D Petiolule length: terminal leaflet 2.34 cm 1.52 cm Petiolule length: first distal leaflet 0.58 cm 2.11 cm Petiolule color: abaxial RHS 146 D RHS 165A Petiolule color: adaxial RHS 146 D RHS N144D Stipule length 1.11 cm 1.00 cm Stipule width 0.51 cm 0.24 cm

(17) Table 5 shows flower and flowering characteristics of the new cultivar compared with flower and flowering characteristics of the blackberry plant ‘Twilight’ . Flower and flowering characteristics include date 1st bloom, date full bloom, date last bloom, petal color, number flowers per cluster, number of petals per flower, flower diameter, petal length, petal width, and number of sepals per flower.

(18) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Characteristic Celestial Twilight Date 1.sup.st bloom 12-May 13-May Date full bloom 20-May 20-May Date last bloom 28-June 30-May Petal color RHS NN155D RHS 69C Number flowers per cluster 12.00 8.83 Number of petals per flower  5.17 5.33 Flower diameter 3.23 cm 3.24 cm Petal length 1.55 cm 1.43 cm Petal width 1.27 cm 1.13 cm Number of sepals per flower  5.00 4.83 Peduncle length (cm) 13.39 3.67 Rachis length (cm) 20.43 10.85  Peduncle color RHS 144A RHS N144A streaked w/RHS 185A Cyme type Elongate simple cyme Elongate simple cyme

(19) Table 6 shows fruit and fruiting characteristics of the new cultivar compared with fruit and fruiting characteristics of the blackberry plant ‘Twilight’. Fruit and fruiting characteristics include date 5% of fruit were ripe, date 50% of fruit were ripe, date 95% of fruit were ripe, weight of primary fruit, weight of secondary fruit, weight of tertiary fruit, diameter of primary fruit at equator, diameter of 2° fruit at equator, diameter of 3° fruit at equator, diameter of 1° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 1° fruit at poles: base, diameter of 2° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 2° fruit at poles: base, diameter of 3° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 3° fruit at poles: base, berry length primary fruit, berry length 2° fruit, berry length 3° fruit, ratio of primary fruit length to width, shape description, uniformity of berry shape, color when full ripe, number of drupelets per fruit, individual seed weight, glossiness, firmness, flavor, texture of fruit when chewed, drupelet skin resistance to abrasion, ease of separation of fruit from pedicel, machine harvestability, resistance to heat damage of fruit, berries per inflorescence—mean, berries per inflorescence range, soluble solids (%; in Brix), pH, titratable acidity (% as citric acid), and yield (actual kg.Math.plt-1). Fruit chemistry data is from 2020 field season at OSU-NWREC.

(20) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Characteristic Celestial Twilight Date 5% of fruit were ripe 20-July 10-July Date 50% of fruit were ripe 31-July 21-July Date 95% of fruit were ripe 24-August 9-August Weight of primary fruit 6.50 g 8.03 g Weight of secondary fruit 5.60 g 5.91 g Weight of tertiary fruit 5.60 g 6.00 g Diameter of primary fruit at equator 2.13 cm 2.16 cm Diameter of 2° fruit at equator 1.78 cm 2.22 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at equator 1.72 cm 2.03 cm Diameter of 1° fruit at poles: tip 1.69 cm 1.70 cm Diameter of 1° fruit at poles: base 1.69 cm 2.18 cm Diameter of 2° fruit at poles: tip 1.43 cm 1.70 cm Diameter of 2° fruit at poles: base 1.52 cm 2.08 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at poles: tip 1.44 cm 1.61 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at poles: base 1.44 cm 1.96 cm Berry length primary fruit 3.00 cm 2.85 cm Berry length 2° fruit 2.60 cm 2.51 cm Berry length 3° fruit 2.22 cm 2.47 cm Ratio of primary fruit length to 1.3 1.32 width Shape description Blunt conical Blocky Uniformity of berry shape Medium Very Consistent Color when full ripe RHS 203A RHS 203A Number of drupelets per fruit 112 68.50 Individual seed weight 2.67 mg 2.96 mg Glossiness Medium Very glossy Firmness Very firm Very firm Flavor Very good Excellent Texture of fruit when chewed Very good Very good Drupelet skin resistance to abrasion Excellent Excellent Ease of separation of fruit from Easy Medium pedicel Machine haryestability Good Good Resistance to heat damage of fruit Very good Good Berries per inflorescence - mean 24.33 7.50 Berries per inflorescence range 12-39 7-8 Soluble solids (%; in Brix) 13.01 14.53 pH 3.70 3.64 Titratable acidity (% as citric acid) 10.10 10.90 Yield (actual kg .Math. plt-1) 10.64 6.26

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

(21) ‘Celestial’ differs from the female parent blackberry plant ‘Eclipse’ in that it has a more vigorous plant with greater heat tolerance and significantly greater yields. The fruit are slightly smaller than ‘Eclipse’, but it produces larger numbers with a higher number of fruits per lateral. The flavor is of similar quality, while the fruit are slightly less glossy, and suffer fewer defects under high temperatures. The fruit have slightly lower sweetness (13.01% Brix) and acidity (10.10% citric acid) compared to ‘Eclipse’ with slightly higher sweetness (13.38% Brix) and acidity (11.30% citric acid), but still a pleasant sweet and aromatic flavor with low bitter aftertaste.

(22) ‘Celestial’ differs from the male parent blackberry plant ORUS 3681-1 in that it is thornless with a slightly less erect growth habit, and significantly greater yields. The fruit are slightly less glossy than ORUS 3681-1, but have better firmness and flavor, much better shape and uniformity, and lower seediness.

(23) ‘Celestial’ differs from the commercial trailing varieties ‘Chester Thornless’ and ‘Twilight’ in that it is 10-14 days earlier ripening than ‘Chester Thornless’ and begins ripening at a similar time to ‘Twilight’ but continues for a longer period. ‘Celestial’ has similar or higher fruit quality after 7 days in refrigerated storage in plastic clam shell packaging at 4° C. to ‘Chester Thornless’ and similar to ‘Twilight’. The ‘Celestial’ fruit are smaller than ‘Twilight’ and slightly larger than ‘Chester Thornless’, with yields that are similar to or better than ‘Chester Thornless’ and significantly higher than ‘Twilight’ at the OSU-NWREC in Aurora, Oreg. The fruit flavor is mildly sweet and aromatic, with a flavor slightly less strong than ‘Twilight’ but much stronger, sweeter, and less tart than ‘Chester Thornless’. Both the plant and fruit appear somewhat more resistant to heat-related stress and defects than ‘Chester Thornless’ and ‘Twilight’.