U.S. patent number PP28,369 [Application Number 14/756,637] was granted by the patent office on 2017-09-12 for blackberry plant named `columbia giant`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. The grantee listed for this patent is The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture. Invention is credited to Chad E. Finn.
United States Patent |
PP28,369 |
Finn |
September 12, 2017 |
Blackberry plant named `Columbia Giant`
Abstract
A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed
produced from a cross between the female blackberry plant `NZ
9629-1` (unpatented) and the male parent blackberry plant `ORUS
1350-2` (unpatented). This new blackberry cultivar can be
distinguished by its high yields of extremely large and very
uniformly shaped berries with very good firmness, color, and flavor
and that are borne on vigorous, completely thornless trailing
plants.
Inventors: |
Finn; Chad E. (Corvallis,
OR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of
Agriculture |
Washington |
DC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE (Washington,
DC)
|
Appl.
No.: |
14/756,637 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170094856 P1 |
Mar 30, 2017 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/203 |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/230,203 |
Primary Examiner: Hwu; June
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Poulos; Gail Fado; John D.
Claims
I claim:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant, substantially
as illustrated and described, characterized by its high yields of
extremely large and very uniformly shaped berries with very good
firmness, color, and flavor and that are borne on vigorous,
completely thornless trailing plants.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: `COLUMBIA
GIANT` is a blackberry plant that is Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.
Variety denomination: The new blackberry plant claimed is of the
variety denominated `Columbia Giant` Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry
cultivar designated `Columbia Giant` and botanically known as Rubus
subg. Rubus Watson. This new blackberry cultivar was discovered in
Corvallis, Oreg. in July 2008 and originated from a cross between
the female blackberry plant `NZ 9629-1` (unpatented) and the male
parent blackberry plant `ORUS 1350-2` (unpatented). `Columbia
Giant`'s spinelessness is derived from `Lincoln Logan` (unpatented)
that can be found as a parent four and five generations back in
`Columbia Giant`'s pedigree. `Columbia Giant` was selected from the
same population as `Columbia Star` (U.S. Plant patent application
Ser. No. 13/815,074, now U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,532). The original
seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated at a nursery
in Benton County, Oreg. The new cultivar was established in vitro
from a cane cutting and microcuttings have been taken and rooted
from this sort of culture. The present invention has been found to
be stable and to reproduce true to type through successive asexual
propagations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying
photographs that show the fruit of the plant and machine harvested
fruit, as well as canes and entire plants; the colors shown are as
true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic
procedures.
FIG. 1. shows a section of a spineless primocane and a leaf.
FIG. 2. shows flowers on the plant. As is typical for commercial
production, trailing primocanes are lifted from the ground in late
summer and tied to a two wire trellis with the lower wire
approximately 1.0 m above the ground and the upper wire
approximately 1.5 m above the ground.
FIG. 3. shows typical fruit in a fruit cluster in the field.
FIG. 4. shows an entire 4-year old plant. As is typical for
commercial production, trailing primocanes are lifted from the
ground in late summer and tied to a two wire trellis with the lower
wire approximately 1.0 m above the ground and the upper wire
approximately 1.5 m above the ground.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY
The following description of `Columbia Giant` is based on
observations taken from 2011 to 2014 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. `Columbia Giant` 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).
Table 1 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar.
Characteristics include plant vigor growth habit, date of budbreak,
timing of primocane emergence, winter tolerance in Aurora, Oreg.
(45.degree. 16' 49'' N/122.degree. 44' 50'' W), and winter
tolerance in Lynden, Wash. (48.degree. 56' 48'' N/122.degree. 27'
2'' W).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Plant Characteristics of `Columbia Giant`.
Characteristic Columbia Giant Plant vigor High compared to Black
Diamond Growth habit Trailing Date of budbreak 27 March Timing of
primocane emergence Early to medium compared to Black Diamond
Winter tolerance in Aurora, Oregon Very good-excellent (45.degree.
16' 49'' N/122.degree. 44' 50'' W) (better than Marion) Winter
tolerance in Lynden, Washington Good-very good (48.degree. 56' 48''
N/122.degree. 27' 2'' W) (better than Marion)
Table 2 shows floricane and mature primocane characteristics of the
new cultivar. 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).
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Floricane and Mature Primocane
Characteristics of `Columbia Giant`. Characteristic Columbia Giant
Diameter at base 1.17 cm Diameter at midpoint 0.84 cm Diameter at
terminus 0.19 cm Internode length at base 3.35 cm Internode length
at midpoint 6.32 cm Internode length at terminus 3.95 cm Presence
of spines further than 0.6 m Absent from the soil surface Presence
of spines less than 0.6 m from Absent the soil surface Floricane
color at base 144A Floricane color at midpoint 144A Floricane color
at terminus 144B Floricane lateral length Medium-long Floricane
lateral strength Medium Primocane color at base 144A with overtones
of 185B Primocane color at midpoint 144A Primocane color at
terminus 146C Floricane length (range) 2.12-6.22 m
Table 3 shows primocane foliage characteristics of the new
cultivar. 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, stipule width,
and stipule attitude. Fruit is borne only on floricanes.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Primocane Foliage Characteristics of
`Columbia Giant`. Characteristic Columbia Giant Mature compound
leaf width 21.70 cm Mature compound leaf length 18.50 cm Number of
leaflets per primocane Usually 5 compound leaf Mature leaflet shape
Ovate Mature leaflet apex Broadly acuminate Mature leaflet base
Cordate Mature terminal leaflet width 8.47 cm Mature terminal
leaflet length 11.88 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width 6.35 cm
Mature first lateral leaflet length 10.53 cm Leaflet margin Double
serrate Leaflet serration teeth length 0.31 cm Leaflet serration
teeth width at base 0.28 cm Spine presence on leaves Absent
Pubescence on primocane leaflet: upper Light surface Pubescence on
primocane leaflet: Light undersurface Primocane leaf color abaxial
137C Primocane leaf color adaxial 148B Petiole length 8.68 cm
Petiole color: upper surface 1440 with gradation to 177B Petiole
color: undersurface 145A Petiolule length: terminal leaflet 2.61 cm
Petiolule length: first distal leaflet 0.80 cm Petiolule color:
abaxial 146B Petiolule color: adaxial 145A Stipule length 2.11 cm
Stipule width 0.17 cm Stipule attitude Crossed near base and
curled
Table 4 shows floricane foliage characteristics of the new
cultivar. 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, pubescence on
floricane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence on floricane leaflet
undersurface, floricane leaf color abaxial, floricane leaf color
adaxial, petiole length, petiole color adaxial, petiole color
abaxial, petiolule length terminal leaflet, petiolule length first
distal leaflet, petiolule color abaxial, petiolule color adaxial,
stipule length, and stipule width.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Floricane Foliage Characteristics of
`Columbia Giant`. Characteristic Columbia Giant Mature compound
leaf width 16.67 cm Mature compound leaf length 9.81 cm Number of
leaflets per floricane compound leaf Usually 3 Mature leaflet shape
Ovate Mature leaflet apex Broadly acuminate Mature leaflet base
Ovate Mature terminal leaflet width 5.30 cm Mature terminal leaflet
length 7.85 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width 4.0 cm Mature
first lateral leaflet length 6.55 cm Leaflet margin Double serrate
Leaflet serration teeth length 0.28 cm Leaflet serration teeth
width at base 0.39 cm Pubescence on floricane leaflet: upper
surface Light Pubescence on floricane leaflet: undersurface Light
Floricane leaf color abaxial 146B Floricane leaf color adaxial 147C
Petiole length 7.22 cm Petiole color adaxial 144C Petiole color
abaxial N144D Petiolule length: terminal leaflet 1.96 cm Petiolule
length: first distal leaflet 0.26 cm Petiolule color: abaxial 144C
Petiolule color: adaxial N144D Stipule length 1.04 cm Stipule width
0.09 cm
Table 5 shows flower and flowering characteristics of the new
cultivar. 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, number of sepals per flower, peduncle
length, rachis length, peduncle color, and cyme type.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Flower and Flowering Characteristics of
`Columbia Giant`. Characteristic Columbia Giant Date 1.sup.st bloom
4 May Date full bloom 11 May Date last bloom 42145 Petal color 157C
Number flowers per cluster 7.33 Number of petals per flower 5.83
Flower diameter 4.23 cm Petal length 1.43 cm Petal width 0.91 cm
Number of sepals per flower 6.17 Peduncle length (cm) 25.69 cm
Rachis length (cm) 9.08 cm Peduncle color 146B Cyme type Simple
Table 6 shows fruit and fruiting characteristics of the new
cultivar. 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.degree. fruit at equator, diameter of 3.degree. fruit
at equator, diameter of 1.degree. fruit at poles: tip, diameter of
1.degree. fruit at poles: base, diameter of 2.degree. fruit at
poles: tip, diameter of 2.degree. fruit at poles: base, diameter of
3.degree. fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 3.degree. fruit at
poles: base, berry length primary fruit, berry length 2.degree.
fruit, berry length 3.degree. fruit, ratio of primary fruit length
to width, shape description, uniformity of berry shape, color when
full ripe, number of drupelets per fruit, drupelet weight,
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 kgplt.sup.-1).
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Fruit and Fruiting Characteristics of
`Columbia Giant`. Characteristic Columbia Giant Date 5% of fruit
were ripe 25 June Date 50% of fruit were ripe 5 July Date 95% of
fruit were ripe 19 July Weight of primary fruit 14.07 g Weight of
secondary fruit 13.27 g Weight of tertiary fruit 14.47 g Diameter
of primary fruit at equator 2.14 cm Diameter of 2.degree. fruit at
equator 2.00 cm Diameter of 3.degree. fruit at equator 1.97 cm
Diameter of 1.degree. fruit at poles: tip 1.17 cm Diameter of
1.degree. fruit at poles: base 1.90 cm Diameter of 2.degree. fruit
at poles: tip 1.31 cm Diameter of 2.degree. fruit at poles: base
2.08 cm Diameter of 3.degree. fruit at poles: tip 1.32 cm Diameter
of 3.degree. fruit at poles: base 1.91 cm Berry length primary
fruit 5.02 cm Berry length 2.degree. fruit 4.67 cm Berry length
3.degree. fruit 4.71 cm Ratio of primary fruit length to width 2.36
Shape description Long conic Uniformity of berry shape Excellent
Color when full ripe Mostly 203B with N186C on ~5% drupelets Number
of drupelets per fruit 181.70 Drupelet weight 77.0 mg Individual
seed weight 26.9 mg Glossiness Medium glossy to dull Firmness Very
good Flavor Very good Texture of fruit when chewed Excellent
Drupelet skin resistance to abrasion Good Ease of separation of
fruit from pedicel Easy Machine harvestability Excellent Resistance
to heat damage of fruit Medium to good Berries per inflorescence -
mean 7.00 Berries per inflorescence range 5-10 Soluble solids (%;
in Brix) 11.25 pH 3.26 Titratable acidity (% as citric acid) 18.5
Yield (actual kg p1t.sup.-1) 6.86 Disease Response Under a typical,
minimal, disease management program does not exhibit any particular
disease problems
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES
`Columbia Giant` differs from the female parent `NZ 9629-1`
(unpatented) in that `Columbia Giant` has medium-sized, glossy,
very large fruit (12-17 g), while `NZ 9629-1` has slightly
pubescent fruit that are smaller (4.5 g).
`Columbia Giant` differs from the male parent blackberry plant
`ORUS 1350-2` (unpatented) in that it is spineless, has conic
berries with excellent flavor, while `ORUS 1350-1` (unpatented) is
spiny and has barrel shaped berries with poor flavor.
`Columbia Giant` differs from the commercial variety `Marion`
(unpatented) in that `Columbia Giant` is spineless and has large
yields of very large, firm, and very uniformly shaped fruit while
`Marion` is spiny and bears medium yields of medium sized, and soft
fruit that are unevenly shaped. `Columbia Giant` differs from the
commercial variety `Black Diamond` (unpatented) in that `Columbia
Giant` carries the `Lincoln Logan` (unpatented) source of
spinelessness and therefore the canes are completely spineless and
the plants are vigorous with fruit that are very large and have
excellent, aromatic flavor, while `Black Diamond` (unpatented)
carries the `Austin Thornless` (unpatented) source of spinelessness
and so has spines on the base of the canes and the plants are not
vigorous and they produce large fruit with a mild flavor. `Columbia
Giant` differs from the commercial variety `Columbia Star` (U.S.
Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/815,074, now U.S. Plant Pat.
No. 25,532) based predominantly on a fruit size. `Columbia Giant`
fruit ranged from 12.2-16.3 g with mean primary fruit size of 14.1
g while `Columbia Star` fruit ranged from 6.0-10.5 g with mean
primary fruit size of 9.7 g.
The market use of Columbia Giant is primarily local fresh such as
local farmers markets but it machine harvests well and processes
well.
* * * * *