BLACK RASPBERRY PLANT NAMED 'SHEKINAH TAHI'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of spineless, floricane fruiting black raspberry Shekinah Tahi. Canes of Shekinah Tahi have no spines, unlike the usual spiny canes of black raspberries. The spineless trait was introgressed from the original red raspberry source that originated in the old Scottish variety Burnetholm. The new cultivar fruits on laterals grown from buds of overwintered floricanes. Shekinah Tahi produces large fruits in tight bunches on the ends of long spineless laterals.

Claims

1. A new and distinct spineless black raspberry plant known as Shekinah Tahi described herein, illustrated and identified by the characteristics presented herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a single fruiting lateral at the time of the ripening of the first fruit. Note the tightly clumped fruit at this stage of ripeness.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a single fruiting lateral at a later stage of ripeness. Ripe fruit are still tightly clumped but are further separated than at the stage of first ripe fruit.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows several fruiting laterals with ripening fruit.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a view of several canes and their fruit from further back.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a punnet of large and the high drupelet number and drupelet thickness of harvested fruit.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a cane tip totally without spines and a view of the leafiness of new canes.

[0039] FIG. 7 shows cotyledonary leaves of spiny and spineless red raspberry as portrayed by D. Lewis in his 1939 paper: Genetical studies in cultivated raspberries, I: inheritance and linkage published in Journal of Genetics Vol. 38 Pages 367-379 as represented in Plate VIII, image 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The black fruited cultivar Shekinah Tahi contains a genetic complement from red raspberry, as expressed in the genetic spinelessness, but its genetics are predominantly from black raspberry. On this basis the black fruited cultivar Shekinah Tahi is botanically classified as the species Rubus occidentalis L.

[0041] The following is a detailed description of Shekinah Tahi based on outdoor performance in Nelson province, New Zealand, and tunnel house performance in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty (other provinces in New Zealand). These observations have been extended and detailed by performance in Whately, Massachusetts where USA trials have been carried out. Observations and measurements have been made on plant morphology, fruit production and on post-harvest performance.

[0042] Primocane growth and appearance: New cane growth of Shekinah Tahi is almost exclusively from crown suckers but an occasional root sucker may be found, although certainly not often enough so that root suckers may be used for propagation of plants to bulk up numbers quickly. First year primocane growth is completely spineless and growth is entirely vegetative until after plants enter dormancy during fall and at the onset of winter. Primocanes of Shekinah Tahi may be tipped as is usual with black raspberries for home garden or commercial cultivation, but it also may be managed without cane tipping and pruned and trained like a red raspberry, which makes it easier to tie the canes to a trellis and to keep the plant confined in a home garden situation. Shekinah Tahi may sometimes propagate itself through tip rooting but this behavior is inhibited by keeping the new canes elevated above the ground.

[0043] Shekinah Tahi propagates readily by tissue culture and, as described with Niwot, plant growth is rejuvenated (rendered juvenile again) by this process. New plants from tissue culture in their first year tend to be more spreading than when they mature in year two and onwards.

Detailed Primocane Descriptions:

[0044] Spininess: Spines (prickles) are completely absent and self pollinated seedlings all have eglandular cotyledons and grow completely spineless, similar to the spineless red raspberries produced in Scotland and around the world and to the spineless blackberries from University of Arkansas and in other locations bearing spineless genes from Rubus ulmifolius var inermis.

[0045] Habit: Upright to semi-upright.

[0046] Emergence: Typically at the same time of Jewel in the when planted together.

[0047] Length: Variable, according to the growing environment, age of the plant, the time of season planted and management. Primocanes of plants that have come through the previous winter in good condition will frequently exceed 2 m growth during the subsequent growing season.

[0048] Quantity: Usually 6-8 canes grow per crown, although this may be less or more under amended growing conditions.

[0049] Color: Glaucous. Primocanes have strong, glaucous, waxy coating that is easily removed by contact.

[0050] Cross section: Nearly circular.

[0051] Diameter: Estimated 1-1.5 cm at the base of canes.

[0052] Rachis: For apex leaflet, length typically 3-5 cm, totally devoid of spines or prickles.

[0053] Disease: No significant disease resistance or susceptibility observed compared with other black or red raspberries at Whately, Massachusetts.

[0054] Pests: No significant pest resistance or susceptibility observed compared with other black or red raspberries at Whately, Massachusetts.

[0055] Heat: Shekinah Tahi has not displayed susceptibility to heat damage in conditions at Whately, Massachusetts.

[0056] Cold: Shekinah Tahi has not displayed susceptibility to cold damage in conditions at Whately, Massachusetts. Plants appear to be hardy throughout USDA hardiness zones 3-8. The variety is very hardy with little to no winter damage being seen in the trials.

[0057] Primocane fruiting: absent

Detailed Floricane Descriptions:

[0058] Floricane growth and appearance: Second year growth, known as floricane growth, begins with mid-season bud break and leads to flowering and fruiting in the same production season as Jewel.

[0059] Cane Color: Glaucous; cane with waxy bloom.

[0060] Laterals: Length variable from 20 to 75 cm from the top to lower laterals.

[0061] Leaves: Leaves grow alternately on the lateral, and are composed of 3 pinnately compound leaflets. The center leaflet is usually three-lobed.

[0062] Rachis: For apex leaflet, length typically 3-5 cm, totally devoid of spines or prickles.

[0063] Productivity: The plants of Shekinah Tahi are productive, with almost the yield of Jewel.

[0064] Flower: Unscented, form the same as black raspberries.

[0065] Inflorescence: Long floricane laterals with flowers bunched at the tips, flowering at a similar time to Jewel.

Fruit:

[0066] Size: Berries are very large for black raspberries with some berries being over 4.5 g in weight.

[0067] Drupelets: Mean count of drupelets per berry appears higher than other black raspberries. Acidity: pH 3.6 Titratable acidity.

[0068] Sweetness: Soluble Solids brix measurement 12.

[0069] Color: black-purple when ripened.

[0070] The following characteristics distinguish Shekinah Tahi from other black raspberries:

[0071] 1) Shekinah Tahi plants are entirely spineless and no spines have been observed on these plants at any time.

[0072] 2) Shekinah Tahi fruits are larger than all black raspberry varieties available to date, and fruit weights are up to 4.5 g

[0073] 3) Fruit of Shekinah Tahi are medium firm, regular and rounded and appear to have a higher drupelet number than other black raspberries

[0074] 4) A tightly clustered fruit presentation on the end of fruiting laterals can make early picking difficult but the lack of spines makes picking and pruning this variety easier compared to traditional black raspberry varieties.

[0075] 5) Canes appear to have stronger vigor than other black raspberries.

[0076] 6) Growth habit appears to be more erect than other black raspberries.