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

(1) The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new variety at various stages of development (approximately one to two-years old plants) as true as it is possible to make in color reproduction. The color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors of Shekinah Tahi.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) FIG. 3 shows several fruiting laterals with ripening fruit.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of several canes and their fruit from further back.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a punnet of large and the high drupelet number and drupelet thickness of harvested fruit.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cane tip totally without spines and a view of the leafiness of new canes.

(8) 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 BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(9) The following is a description of the new variety using color terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Color Charts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2015 edition.

(10) 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. Propagation: Shekinah Tahi propagates readily by tissue culture and 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. Shekinah Tahi may sometimes propagate itself through tip rooting. Plants are grown on their own roots. Overall plant height 1.5-2 m depending on the growing location; plants are generally 2 m tall in New Zealand when grown outdoors in soil. Average plant width is dependent on being trained as planar plants on a trellis and when grown in this manner the width is 0.5-0.8 m. Roots extend 0.3-0.5 m from a crown. Primocane: New cane growth of Shekinah Tahi is almost exclusively from crown suckers but an occasional root sucker may be found. 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 may also be managed without cane tipping and pruned and trained like a red raspberry. 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 similar to the spineless blackberries from America and in other locations bearing spineless genes from Rubus ulmifolius var inermis (without spines or prickles). Canes: Very young shoot: anthocyanin coloration of apex during rapid growthpresent; floricane color in spring purpleish grey (N187C); spinesabsent; generally 6-8 canes grow per crown, although this may be less or more under amended growing conditions; cane lengthvariable 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. Cane color with bloom removed dark red (59A). Primocanes have strong, waxy coating that is easily removed by contact; cane cross sectiongenerally circular; diameter at the base of canes1-1.5 cm; primocane fruiting: absent. Floricane growth and appearance: Begins with mid-season bud break and leads to flowering and fruiting in the same production season as Jewel; dark purplish red (N79B); cane bloom is between very pale purple (91C) and light violet (91B). Fruit: Berries are round in both latitudinal and longitudinal dimensions and are approximately 22-25 mm in diameter; general shape in lateral view-circular; color of fruit skin dark greyish purple (202A); fruit pulp dark greyish purple (202A); fruit juice of squashed fruit dark red (187A) less shiny appearance than Jewel fruit; fruit are slightly softer than Jewel; fruit main bearing type-only on previous year's cane in summer; time of fruit ripening on previous season's canes-very early to early (between Vene and Glen Clova); variety does not fruit on current season's cane in autumn; acidity: pH 3.6 Titratable acidity; Soluble Solids brix measurement 12; timing of harvestmid-season, similar to Jewel; drupelet walls of Shekinah Tahi fruitthick; Shekinah Tahi fruit are borne in very tight clusters, predominantly at the lateral tips. Seed: Seed endocarp color light yellowish brown 199C. Habit: Upright to semi-upright. Emergence: Typically at the same time of Jewel in the when planted together. Leaves: Apex leaflet, length typically 3-5 cm, totally devoid of spines (i.e., prickles); leaf color upper side greyish olive green (NN137C); leaf color underside moderate yellow green (148B); leaf petiole moderate purplish red (59C); leaves grow alternately on the lateral, and are composed of 3 pinnately compound leaflets; the center leaflet is generally three-lobed; laterals leaf length variable from 20 to 75 cm from the top to base; palmate venation; arrangement of leaflets-overlapping; terminal leaflet: undulationmedium; leaf edges are serrated; surface texture of leaf is rugose. Disease: No significant disease resistance or susceptibility observed compared with other black or red raspberries at Whately, Massachusetts. Pests: No significant pest resistance or susceptibility observed compared with other black or red raspberries at Whately, Massachusetts. Heat tolerance: Shekinah Tahi has not displayed susceptibility to heat damage in conditions at Whately, Massachusetts. Cold tolerance: 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 hardy with little to no winter damage observed. Flower: Unscented; flower cluster light yellowish green (140D); open flower greyish yellow green (194B). Productivity: The plants of Shekinah Tahi are productive, with almost the yield of Jewel. Inflorescence: Long floricane laterals with flowers bunched at the tips; timing of flowering similar time to Jewel.

(11) The following characteristics distinguish Shekinah Tahi from other black raspberries:

(12) When compared to similar known variety Munger, Shekinah Tahi has a larger average fruit weight (4 grams compared to 2.5 grams) and is spine free, compared to Munger, which has spines present on the canes. Fruit of Shekinah Tahi have a higher drupelet number than Jewel. Shekinah Tahi canes have a stronger vigor than Jewel. Growth habit of Shekinah Tahi appears to be more erect than Jewel. Shekinah Tahi leaves are larger than those of Jewel.