<i>Rubus idaeus </i>plant named ‘BT RASseven’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus idaeus plant named BT RASseven is disclosed, characterized by high quality fruits in terms of shelf life. Shelf life is 8 to 9 days at normal fruit cooler temperatures. Plants are semi-erect, including the lateral branches. Fruit has a clear light red color which is maintained during post-harvest. Plants have dense pubescence at the base of the plant. The new cultivar is a Rubus, intended for commercial fruit production.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus idaeus plant named BT RASseven as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques. Colors in the photographs may appear to differ slightly from the color values cited in the botanical description, which accurately describe the colors.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates in full color harvested fruit of BT RASseven.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates in full color the base of a plant of BT RASseven, with typically dense pubescence.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates in full color typical plants of BT RASseven. Age of the plants is approximately 1 year old grown in a poly hoop house.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe BT RASseven plants which were grown in Borgo Valsugana, Trento, Italy. Plants were grown in a season tunnel, given approximately 30% shading during Summer. The growing temperature ranged from about 15 C. to 34 C. during the day and from about 8 C. to 22 C. during the night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Plants are approximately 1 year old. Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus BT RASseven.

PROPAGATION

(6) Time to initiate roots: About 35 days at approximately 16 C. Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 45 days at 18 C.

PLANT

(7) Age of plant described: About 1 year. Plant spread: Approximately 70 cm. Plant height: Approximately 200 cm. Habit: Semi-upright. Floral bud burst: Mid-April. Cane emergence: Mid-May. Primocane length: Approx. 230 cm. Primocane color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151B. Anthocyanin coloration present: Not typical. Young shoot anthocyanin coloration at apex: Weak. Dormant cane color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164A. Primocane diameter: Average 1.2 cm. Primocane quantity: Few to medium. Floricane length: Long. 25 to 45 cm. Floricane attitude of fruiting laterals: Semi-upright. Internode length: Average 5 cm. Spines: Approximately density/quantity of spines.Extremely high density of small spines at the base level. About 30 to 40 cm of height, moderate density of spines, approximately 3 to 4 per cm of stem length at 1 meter of height. Length.Average range 2 to 3 mm. Color.Near RHS Brown 200A. Shape.Short deltate.

FOLIAGE

(8) Leaf: Average of lateral and terminal leaflets. Arrangement.Compound opposite. Quantity.9-10 per stem. Average length.Approximately 26 cm. Average width.Approximately 18 to 20 cm. Leaflet: Quantity.Most common quantity of leaflets per leaf: 3. Average length.Approximately 14-19 cm. Average width.Approximately 7-10 cm. Shape of blade.Overall broad deltate. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Broad rounded. Margin.Double serrate. Texture of top surface.Coriaceous. Texture of bottom surface.Coriaceous. Pubescence.Low. Leaf internode length.6-9 cm. Color.Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 142B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 141B. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 134B. Venation.Type: Cross veniculate, pinnate along main axis. Venation color upper side: Near Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near Yellow-Green 144D. Petiole.Length: 6 to 8 cm. Width: 3 mm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C. Texture: Glabrous. Rachis.Length: 12-13 cm. Width: 3-4 mm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C. Texture: Glabrous. Stipules.Not observed.

FLOWER

(9) Floral bud burst date: Approximately July 25 for primocane flowers in Northern Italy. Floricane florane bud burst date: Around May 25 in Northern Italy. Flowering season: Begins around August 20 in Verona, Italy. Inflorescence: Flowers per.15-24. Flower size: Diameter.Approximately 2 cm. Length.Approximately 1 cm. Peduncle: Length.5 cm. Diameter.0.2 cm. Color.Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C. Anthocyanin intensity.Weak. Texture.Glabrous. Pedicel: Length.1.3 cm. Diameter.2 mm. Color.Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C. Texture.Glabrous. Petals: Petal arrangement.Rotate. Length.9 mm. Width.5 mm. Shape.Semi-cuneate. Margin.Entire. Apex.Rounded. Base.Rounded. Petal quantity.5. Texture.Glabrous. Color: Petals: When opening.Upper surface: Near RHS White N155B. Lower surface: Near RHS White N155B. Fully opened.Upper surface: Near RHS White N155B. Lower surface: Near RHS White N155B. Bud: Shape.Ovate. Length.Approximately 6 mm. Diameter.Approximately 4 mm. Color.Near RHS Greyed-Orange 166B. Sepals. Length.1.5 cm. Width.6 mm. Shape.Narrow deltate with apiculate apex. Color.Interior Surface: Near RHS Green 140C. Exterior Surface: Near RHS Green 141B. Texture.Glabrous.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(10) Androecium: Stamens. Number.120 to 135. Filament length.Approximately 6 mm. Filament color.Near RHS Green-White 157A. Anthers: Length.0.8 mm. Shape.Ovate. Color.Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164A. Pollen.Quantity: Moderate. Color: Near RHS White N155C. Pistil: Number.135 to 145. Length.Approximately 4 mm. Style.Length: Approximately 4 mm. Color: Near RHS Green-White 157A.

FRUIT

(11) Market use: Fresh consumption. Length: 4.5 to 5 cm. Diameter: 2.7 to 3 cm. General shape in lateral view: Round-conical. Color: Near RHS Red 43B, 43C and 43D. Average druplets per berry: 180. Average weight per berry: 5.5 to 6 grams. Brix: 9.6 on primocane fruit harvested in July. Firmness: Medium. Fruit bearing on floricane/primocane or both: Both. Fruit produced on floricane and primocane are identical. Fruit begins ripening: Primocane about August 25th; floricane about April 15.sup.th. Fruiting season: Primocane September 15 to November; floricane June to mid-July. Yield per hectare: 15 to 19 ton/ha in primocane; 23 to 24 ton/ha in floricane. Other fruit characteristics: Clear colored fruit of medium size with very slow darkening compared to most commercial varieties. Very stable clear color also maintained after harvest.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(12) Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: Observed good tolerance for raspberry aphid, Amphorophora idaei and leafhoppers, Edwardsiana rosae. Good tolerance to common strains of raspberry orange rust. Some susceptibility to powdery mildew has been observed especially on young shoots. Temperature tolerance: Maximum 36 C. during pollination and harvest. Good tolerance to winter frosts to 15 C.