U.S. patent number PP30,448 [Application Number 15/731,503] was granted by the patent office on 2019-04-30 for blackberry plant named `eclipse`.
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. Invention is credited to Chad E. Finn.
United States Patent |
PP30,448 |
Finn |
April 30, 2019 |
Blackberry plant named `Eclipse`
Abstract
A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed
produced from a cross between the female blackberry plant `ORUS
1393-1` (unpatented) and the male blackberry plant `Triple Crown`
(unpatented). This new blackberry is unique in that it contains all
three commercial blackberry types (trailing, erect, and semi-erect)
in its pedigree as either a parent or a grandparent. This new
blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by being early ripening
for a semi-erect blackberry, by its medium-sized, firm berries with
tough skin and very good flavor, by its medium to high yields borne
on a vigorous plant with a semi-erect type growth habit and by its
completely thornless canes.
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)
|
Family
ID: |
64657165 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/731,503 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180368302 P1 |
Dec 20, 2018 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/7499 (20180501) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/08 (20180101); A01H 6/74 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/203 |
Primary Examiner: Robinson; Keith O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fado; John Atkinson; Ariel
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of thornless blackberry plant,
substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its
medium sized fruit that are sweet, firm and have a tough skin and
that ripen earlier than most semi-erect blackberry cultivars.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: `Eclipse`
is a blackberry plant that is Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.
Variety denomination: The new blackberry plant claimed is of the
variety denominated `Eclipse` Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry
cultivar designated `Eclipse` and botanically known as Rubus subg.
Rubus Watson. This new blackberry cultivar was discovered in
Corvallis, Oreg. in August 2004 and originated from a cross between
the female blackberry plant `ORUS 1393-1` (unpatented) and the
thornless, male parent blackberry plant `Triple Crown`
(unpatented). `ORUS 1393-1` (unpatented) was a selection from a
cross of the thornless erect blackberry `Navaho` (U.S. Plant Pat.
No. 6,679) and a thorny trailing blackberry selection ORUS 1122-1
(unpatented). Therefore `Eclipse` represents a unique pedigree with
all three of the main types of blackberry used in breeding for
commercial cultivars represented in its pedigree as it's paternal
parent is a hybrid of an erect and trailing blackberry genotype and
its maternal parent is a semi-erect blackberry. `Eclipse's`
spinelessness was originally derived from `Merton Thornless` (U.S.
Plant Pat. No. 571). 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 reproduce
true to type through successive asexual propagations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing
characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal
horticultural practices in Oregon. 1. High plant vigor as compared
to semi-erect blackberry `Loch Ness` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782);
2. Semi-erect growth habit with thornless canes; 3. Early date for
50% of ripe fruit compared to `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) and
`Triple Crown` (unpatented) 4. Firm fruit with tough skin compared
to `Triple Crown` (unpatented); 5. Better flavor than `Chester
Thornless` (unpatented) and `Loch Ness` (U.S. Plant Pat. No.
6,782); 6. Smaller, firmer, and more symmetrically shaped fruit
than those for its sibling `Galaxy` (plant patent applied for),
that also ripens later.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying
photographs that show the flowers, fruit and entire plants; the
colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by
conventional photographic procedures.
FIG. 1. shows typical fruiting cluster with ripe fruit `Eclipse` on
a 2-year old plant.
FIG. 2. shows an entire flat of harvested `Eclipse` fruit.
FIG. 3. shows two clamshells of `Eclipse` fruit after 14 days of
refrigerated storage at .about.1.degree. C.
FIG. 4. shows an entire flowering 4-year old `Eclipse` plant. As is
typical for commercial production, semi-erect blackberry primocanes
are topped at .about.1 m and the primocanes and laterals that
develop after topping are 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. 5. shows the thornless primocanes on a typical 2-year old
crown of `Eclipse`.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR
The following description of `Eclipse` is based on observations on
2- to 5-year old plants taken from 2012 to 2017 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.
`Eclipse` 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 important plant characteristics of the new cultivar.
Characteristics include plant vigor, growth habit, date 50% of
fruit were ripe, weight of primary fruit, firmness of fruit flavor
of fruit and winter tolerance in Aurora, Oreg. (45.degree. 16' 49''
N/122.degree. 44' 50'' W) and Lynden, Wash. (48.degree. 56' 48''
N/122.degree. 27' 2'' W).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic Eclipse Plant vigor High
vigor, greater than Loch Ness, similar to Triple Crown and less
than Chester THornless Growth habit Semi-erect Date 50% of fruit 2
Aug., early compared to Triple Crown and Chester were ripe
Thornless Weight of primary 6.35 g, larger than Chester Thornless
and smaller than fruit Triple Crown Firmness of fruit Excellent,
firmer than Triple Crown and as firm as Chester Thornless Skin
toughness of Excellent, better than Triple Crown and similar to
fruit Chester Thornless Flavor of fruit Very good, better than
Chester Thornless or Loch Ness Winter tolerance in Excellent
(comparable to Triple Crown and Chester Aurora, Oregon Thornless)
(45.degree. 16' 49'' N/ 122.degree. 44' 50'' W) Winter tolerance in
Excellent (comparable to Triple Crown and Chester Lynden,
Washington Thornless) (48.degree. 56' 58'' N/ 122.degree. 27' 2''
W)
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,
floricane length, and floricane length (range).
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic Eclipse Diameter at base 1.94
cm Diameter at midpoint 1.30 cm Diameter at terminus 0.22 cm
Internode length at base 3.83 cm Internode length at midpoint 5.72
cm Internode length at terminus 4.55 cm Presence of spines further
than 0.6 m Absent from the soil surface Presence of spine 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 blushed with 166A Primocane
color at midpoint 143C blushed with 200A Primocane color at
terminus 144B blushed with 183A Floricane length 2.46 m Floricane
length (range) 1.38-3.00 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.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic Eclipse Mature compound leaf
width 25.90 cm Mature compound leaf length 22.72 cm Number of
leaflets per primocane 5 compound leaf Mature leaflet shape Oval;
some orbicular Mature leaflet apex Abruptly acuminate Mature
leafelt base Acute Mature terminal leaflet width 9.50 cm Mature
terminal leaflet length 12.47 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width
7.77 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length 11.25 cm Leaflet margin
Doubly serrate Leaflet serration teeth length 0.26 cm Leaflet
serration teeth width at base 0.70 cm Spine presence on leaves No
Pubescence on primocane leaflet: upper None surface Pubescence on
primocane leaflet: Yes, light undersurface Primocane leaf color
abaxial N137B Primocane leaf color adaxial 137B Petiole length 6.77
cm Petiole color: upper surface 145B strongly blushed with 187A
Petiole color: undersurface 145B blushed with 187A Petiolule
length: terminal leaflet 3.55 cm Petiolule length: first distal
leaflet 2.20 cm Petiolule color: abaxial 145B blushed with 187A
Petiolule color: adaxial 145B blushed with 187A Stipule lenght 1.84
cm Stipule width 0.08 cm Stipule attitude Erect
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, 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 Characteristic Eclipse Mature compound leaf
width 17.37 cm Mature compound leaf length 11.32 cm Number of
leaflets per floricane compound leaf 2-5, typically 3 Mature
leaflet shape Ovate Mature leaflet apex Broadly acute Mature
leaflet base Acute Mature terminal leaflet width 7.33 cm Mature
terminal leaflet length 9.70 cm Mature first lateral leaflet width
6.87 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length 9.00 cm Leaflet margin
Doubly serrate Leaflet serration teeth length 0.35 cm Leaflet
serration teeth width at base 0.43 cm Pubescence on floricane
leaflet: upper surface Light Pubescence on floricane: leaflet
undersurface Heavy Floricane leaf color abaxial N137A FLoricane
leaf color adaxial N138B Petiole length 4.42 cm Petiole color
adaxial 144A Petiole color abaxial 144D Petiolule length terminal
leaflet 1.7 cm Petiolule length first distal leaflet 1.89 cm
Petiolule color abaxial 144A Petiolule color adaxial 144C Stipule
length 1.15 cm Stipule width 0.18 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, the number
flowers per cluster, the number of petals per flower, flower
diameter, petal length, petal width, and the number of sepals per
flower.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Characteristic Eclipse Date 1.sup.st bloom
10 May Date full bloom 27 May Date last bloom 3 Jun Petal color
NN155B Number flowers per cluster 7.87 Number of petals per flower
5.22 Flower diamteter 3.28 cm Petal length 1.47 cm Petal width 1.12
cm Number of sepals per flower 5 Peduncle length 17.87 cm Rachis
length 14.43 cm Peduncle color N144A Cyme type Simple raceme
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,
diameter of primary fruit at equator, diameter of 2.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, berry
length 1.degree. fruit, berry length 2.degree. fruit, ratio of
primary fruit length to width, shape description, uniformity of
berry shape, color when full ripe, number of drupelets per fruit,
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),
yield (actual kgplt.sup.-1), disease response, and red berry mite
response.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Characteristic Eclipse Date 5% of fruit were
ripe 18 Jul. Date 50% of fruit were ripe 2 Aug. Date 95% of fruit
were ripew 24 Aug. Weight of primary fruit 6.35 g Weight of
secondary fruit 6.13 g Weight of tertiary fruit 5.55 g Diameter of
primary fruit at equator 1.73 cm Diameter of 2.degree. fruit at
equator 1.99 cm Diameter of 3.degree. fruit at equator 1.89 cm
Diameter of 1.degree. fruit at poles: tip 0.94 cm Diameter of
1.degree. fruit at poles: base 1.63 cm Diameter of 2.degree. fruit
at poles: tip 0.92 cm Diameter of 2.degree. fruit at poles: base
1.78 cm Diameter of 3.degree. fruit at poles: tip 1.17 cm Diameter
of 3.degree. fruit at poles: base 1.56 cm Berry length primary
fruit 2.58 cm Berry length 2.degree. fruit 2.72 cm Berry length
3.degree. fruit 2.52 cm Ratio of primary fruit length to width 1.48
Shape description Conical to barrel, slightly irregular Uniformity
of berry shape Good Color when full ripe 203C Number of druplets
per fruit 88.67 Total seed weight per fruit 222.92 mg Individual
seed weight 2.52 mg Glossiness Glossy Firmness Very firm Flavor
Very good Texture of fruit when chewed Fair-good Druplet skin
resistance to abrasion Excellent Ease of separation of fruit from
Fair pedicel Machine harvestability Fair Resistance to heat damage
of fruit Sweet Berries per inflorescence-mean 6.33 Berries per
inflorescence range 5-9 Soluble solids (%; in Brix) 13.85 pH 3.37
Titratable acidity (% as citric acid) 9.90 Yield (actual kg
plt.sup.-1) 6.93 Disease response Under a typical, minimal, disease
management program does not exhibit any particular disease problems
Red berry mite (Acalitus essigi) Susceptible but fewer symptoms
response than on Triple Crown
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS
`Eclipse` differs from the female parent blackberry plant `ORUS
1393-1` (unpatented) in that `Eclipse` is thornless and the fruit
have a sweet, pleasant flavor and are more uniformly shaped, while
`ORUS 1393-1` has thorny canes and the fruit are slightly bitter
and the drupelets are unevenly set.
`Eclipse` differs from the male parent blackberry plant `Triple
Crown` (unpatented) in that it is earlier ripening (50% ripe fruit
on 2 August) with medium sized (6.35 g) fruit that are firm with a
tough skin, while `Triple Crown` (unpatented) is mid-season
ripening (16 August) with large (7.50 g) fruit that are soft with
tender skin.
`Eclipse` is earlier ripening than other commercial semi-erect
blackberries such as `Triple Crown` (unpatented) or `Chester
Thornless` (unpatented). `Eclipse` ripens in a similar season to
the semi-erect blackberry `Loch Ness` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782)
but is more vigorous growing and has firmer fruit with a sweeter
flavor. `Eclipse` is not typically as high yielding as `Chester
Thornless` (unpatented) or `Triple Crown` (unpatented). The fruit
of `Eclipse` are firm and have a tough skin like those of `Chester
Thornless` (unpatented) and are firmer and much tougher skinned
than `Triple Crown` (unpatented) fruit. `Eclipse` fruit are sweeter
than `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) fruit due to higher percent
soluble solids and lower titratable acidity and pH.
* * * * *