Raspberry plant variety named `DrisRaspThirteen`

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant named `DrisRaspThirteen`, particularly characterized by its large fruit size and higher yield on smaller plants, is disclosed.

Description

Latin name: Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus L.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed variety of raspberry plant is `DrisRaspThirteen`.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Raspberries are the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus of the rose family. Most raspberry species are in the subgenus Idaeobatus. Raspberry plants are perennial plants with woody stems. Many of the most important modern commercial red raspberry cultivars derive from hybrids between R. idaeus and R. strigosus. Recent breeding has resulted in cultivars that are thornless and more strongly upright, not needing staking.

Both the red and the black raspberry species have albino-like pale-yellow natural or horticultural variants. Fruits from such plants are called golden raspberries or yellow raspberries. Most pale-fruited raspberries commercially sold in the eastern United States are derivatives of red raspberries. Yellow-fruited variants of the black raspberry are sometimes grown in home gardens. Despite their dissimilar appearance, golden raspberries retain the distinctive flavor of their respective red or black species.

An individual raspberry fruit is made up of around 100 drupelets, each of which contains a juicy pulp and a single central seed. A raspberry bush can yield several hundred berries a year. Unlike blackberries and dewberries, a raspberry has a hollow core once it is removed from the receptacle.

Raspberries are traditionally planted in the winter as dormant canes, but planting plugs produced by tissue culture is also common. Additionally, the long cane production method consists of growing canes for one year in cold climates where the bud break is early, and then transplanting the canes to warm climates where they quickly flower and can produce an early season crop. A very vigorous crop, raspberries spread well and can be considered invasive, using extended underground shoots (also known as suckers or basal shoots) that can develop roots and individual plants.

Raspberries are a popular fruit that are recognized for their antioxidants, high fiber, and as a good source of vitamin C. Raspberry fruit is typically consumed as fresh fruit, individually quick frozen (IQF) fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purees, juices, jellies, jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Raspberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop, widely grown in all temperate regions of the world. Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of raspberry plant. In particular, there is a need for improved varieties of raspberry plant that are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to an improved variety of raspberry plant. In particular, the invention relates to a new and distinct variety of raspberry plant (Rubus idaeus L), which has been denominated as `DrisRaspThirteen`.

Raspberry plant variety `DrisRaspThirteen` was discovered in Santa Cruz County, Calif. in June of 2010 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent raspberry plant `DrisRaspThree` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,477) and the proprietary male parent raspberry plant `RA101.1` (unpatented). The original seedling of the new variety was first asexually propagated by tissue culture at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. in 2010.

`DrisRaspThirteen` was subsequently asexually propagated via tissue culture and root cuttings, and underwent further testing at a farm in Santa Cruz County, Calif. for six years (2010 to 2015). The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via tissue culture and root cuttings.

`DrisRaspThirteen` exhibits the following distinguishing characteristics when grown under normal horticultural practices in Santa Cruz County, Calif.: 1. Medium cane height; 2. High number of current season's canes; 3. High percentage of flowering primocanes; 4. Medium-sized fruit with high length-to-width ratio; and 5. Moderate resistance to powdery mildew.

`DrisRaspThirteen` was selected for its large fruit size and higher yield on smaller plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new raspberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show fruit of the plant, as well as the primocanes, flowers, and leaves. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are from eight months old to eighteen months old.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate both the lower surface (FIG. 1A) and the upper surface (FIG. 1B) of plant leaves of variety `DrisRaspThirteen`.

FIG. 2 illustrates typical flowers and fruit of variety `DrisRaspThirteen` at various stages of development.

FIG. 3 illustrates section of a young cane with prickles of variety `DrisRaspThirteen`.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of `DrisRaspThirteen`. The data that define these characteristics are based on observations taken in Santa Cruz County, Calif. from 2010 to 2015. 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. `DrisRaspThirteen` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of `DrisRaspThirteen` was taken from eight-month-old to eighteen-month-old plants. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2.sup.nd edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined. Classification: Family.--Rosaceae. Botanical.--Rubus idaeus L. Common name.--Raspberry. Variety name.--`DrisRaspThirteen`. Parentage: Female parent.--`DrisRaspThree` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,477). Male parent.--`RA101.1` (unpatented). Plant: Propagation.--Tissue culture and root cuttings. Height.--180.0 cm. Width.--132.0 cm. Length/width ratio.--1.4. Self-fruitfulness.--Self-fruitful. New cane growth habit.--Semi-erect or semi-upright. Primocanes: Cane length in autumn.--141.80 cm. Internodal distance at central 1/3 of cane.--4.80 cm. Anthocyanin coloration of cane.--Absent. Anthocyanin coloration of apex during rapid growth of very young shoot.--Present. Percent of cane flowering as primocane.--65%. Percent primocane yield of total yield.--60%. Shape of cane cross section (from mid cane of primocane).--Rounded. Pubescence on canes.--Absent. Floricanes: Dormant cane color in summer.--RHS 165A (Moderate brown). Fruiting lateral attitude in summer.--Semi-erect. Prickles (spines): Length at 1.0 m height at end of harvest season (from base to tip).--2.10 mm. Color (pigmentation).--RHS 187C (Dark red). Attitude of tip.--Upward. Presence and distribution on petioles.--Present and irregularly distributed. Leaves: Terminal leaflet.--Length: 140.1 mm. Width: 98.4 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.4. Leaf color: Green color of upper surface: RHS NN137A (Greyish olive-green). Green color of lower surface: RHS 138C (Moderate yellow-green). Profile in cross section: Concave. Overlapping or relative position of lateral leaflets: Free. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Truncate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Doubly serrate. Lateral leaflets (basal pair).--Number of leaflets: Sometimes 3 and sometimes 5. Size: Length: 108.6 mm. Width: 78.5 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.4. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Truncate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Doubly serrate. Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral leaflets.--41.1 mm. Petiole.--Length: 1.0 mm. Diameter: 2.06 mm. Pigmentation of upper surface: RHS 137C (Moderate yellow-green). Pigmentation of underside: RHS 138B (Moderate yellow-green). Stipules: Orientation.--Erect. Flowers: Diameter.--29.14 mm. Petal length.--8.70 mm. Petal width.--3.82 mm. Length/width ratio.--2.3. Petal color.--RHS 155C (Greenish white). Flowering period.--Primocane: Early June to late September. Floricane: Late March to June. Pedicel.--Anthocyanin coloration: Present. Length: 37.02 mm. Diameter: 1.29 mm. Fruit: Length.--25.91 mm. Diameter.--22.74 mm. Ratio of length to width.--1.1:1. Average number of drupelets per fruit.--95. Weight (g/fruit).--Primocane: 5.4 g/fruit. Floricane: 5.1 g/fruit. Soluble solids (in Brix).--10.5%. Weight of seeds.--0.001377 g/seed. Shape.--Ovate (Broad conical). Color.--Immature fruit: RHS 139D (Moderate yellow-green). Maturing fruit: RHS 30A (Vivid reddish orange). Mature fruit color: RHS 45A (Vivid red). Main bearing type.--Both on previous year's cane in summer and on current year's cane in autumn. Harvest season.--Time of ripening -- primocane: Mid-July to November. Time of ripening -- floricane: May to late June. Yield.--24,024 kg/ha to 37,301 kg/ha of fruit per season from seven-month-old plants when grown in Oxnard, Calif. Disease resistance: Powdery mildew.--Moderately resistant.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL RASPBERRY VARIETIES

`DrisRaspThirteen` differs from the proprietary female parent `DrisRaspThree` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,477) in that `DrisRaspThirteen` has a shorter cane height but higher number of current season's canes than `DrisRaspThree`. Additionally, plants of `DrisRaspThirteen` produce fruits on the primocane that are smaller in size and produce a higher percentage of flowering primocanes as compared to `DrisRaspThree`.

`DrisRaspThirteen` differs from the proprietary male parent `RA101.1` (unpatented) in that `DrisRaspThirteen` has a longer cane height than `RA101.1`. Moreover, plants of `DrisRaspThirteen` produce flowers that are bigger and fruits that are larger in size as compared to `RA101.1`.

`DrisRaspThirteen` differs from the commercial variety `Driscoll Maravilla` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,804) in that plants of `DrisRaspThirteen` produce a higher percentage of flowering primocanes than `Driscoll Maravilla`. Moreover, plants of `DrisRaspThirteen` produce fruits that are larger in size and have a higher length to width ratio, and seeds that are lighter in weight as compared to `Driscoll Maravilla`.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct variety of raspberry plant designated `DrisRaspThirteen` as shown and described herein.