U.S. patent number PP30,879 [Application Number 15/998,301] was granted by the patent office on 2019-09-10 for blackberry plant named `twilight`.
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.
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United States Patent |
PP30,879 |
Finn |
September 10, 2019 |
Blackberry plant named `Twilight`
Abstract
A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed
produced from a cross between the thornless female blackberry plant
`Ouachita` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,762) and the thornless, male
parent blackberry plant `ORUS 2867-4` (unpatented)). This new
blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by being fairly early
ripening for a semi-erect blackberry, by its large sized, very firm
berries with tough skin and a crisp texture when eaten and
excellent flavor, by its 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: |
67844897 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/998,301 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
5/08 (20130101); A01H 6/7499 (20180501) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/08 (20180101); A01H 6/74 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/156,203 |
Primary Examiner: McCormick Ewoldt; Susan
Assistant Examiner: Redden; Karen M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fado; John Atkinson; Ariel
Claims
I claim:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of thornless blackberry plant,
substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its
large sized fruit that are sweet, crisp, firm, and have a very
tough skin.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:
`Twilight` is a blackberry plant that is Rubus subg. Rubus
Watson.
Variety denomination: The new blackberry plant claimed is of the
variety denominated `Twilight` Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT
The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry
cultivar designated `Twilight` and botanically known as Rubus subg.
Rubus Watson. This new blackberry cultivar was discovered in
Corvallis, Oreg. in August 2012 and originated from a cross between
the thornless female blackberry plant `Ouachita` (U.S. Plant Pat.
No. 17,762) and the thornless, male parent blackberry plant `ORUS
2867-4` (unpatented). `ORUS 2867-4` (unpatented) was a selection
from a cross of the thornless semi-erect blackberry `Triple Crown`
(unpatented) and a thorny trailing blackberry selection `ORUS
1393-1` (unpatented). `Twilight'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 NEW PLANT
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing
characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal
horticultural practices in Oregon. First, the new cultivar has a
high plant vigor as compared to semi-erect blackberry `Loch Ness`
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782); second, the new cultivar has a
semi-erect growth habit with thornless canes; third, the new
cultivar has an early date for 50% of ripe fruit compared to
`Chester Thornless` (unpatented) and `Triple Crown` (unpatented)
but not as early as `Eclipse` (U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/731,503) or `Galaxy` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,062); fourth, the
new cultivar has a very firm fruit with abrasion-resistant, tough
skin compared to `Triple Crown (unpatented) and `Chester Thornless`
(unpatented); fifth, the new cultivar has excellent flavor compared
to `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) and `Loch Ness` (U.S. Plant
Pat. No. 6,782); and sixth, the new cultivar has larger fruit than
those of `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) and similar to those of
`Triple Crown` (unpatented).
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
`Twilight`.
FIG. 2 shows a flat of harvested `Twilight` fruit (left) compared
to a flat of `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) fruit (right).
FIG. 3 shows three clamshells of `Twilight` fruit (left column)
compared to `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) fruit (right column)
after 21 days of refrigerated storage at .about.1.degree. C.
FIG. 4 shows entire flowering 3-year old `Twilight` plants. 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.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR
The following description of `Twilight` is based on observations
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. `Twilight` 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 `Twilight` Plant vigor High
vigor, similar to `Eclipse`, less vigorous than `Chester Thornless`
and `Triple Crown` and more vigorous than `Loch Ness` Growth habit
Semi-erect Date 50% of fruit were ripe 21 July, early compared to
`Triple Crown` and `Chester Thornless`; Later than `Eclipse` Weight
of primary fruit (g) 8.7 g, larger than `Chester Thornless`,
similar in size to `Triple Crown` Firmness of fruit Excellent, much
firmer than `Triple Crown` and firmer than `Chester Thornless` Skin
toughness of fruit Excellent, much better than `Triple Crown` and
better than `Chester Thornless` Flavor of fruit Very good,
excellent compared to `Chester Thornless`, similar to `Triple
Crown` and `Eclipse` Winter tolerance in Aurora, Excellent,
comparable to `Triple Crown`, Oregon (45 16' 49'' N/122 `Chester
Thornless`, and `Navaho` (U.S. 44' 50'' W) Plant Pat. No. 6,679)
Winter tolerance in Lynden, Excellent. comparable to `Triple Crown`
and Washington (48 56' 48'' `Chester Thornless` N/122 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 lateral length, floricane
lateral strength, primocane color at base, primocane color at
midpoint, and primocane color at terminus. The characteristics of
floricane color at terminus, floricane length, and floricane length
(range) are not available for the new cultivar as the standard
practice for the cultivar is to remove the tips of primocanes
(which become floricanes after receiving winter chilling) to
encourage fruiting.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic `Twilight` Diameter at base
(cm) 2.00 Diameter at midpoint (cm) 1.23 Diameter at terminus (cm)
0.37 Internode length at base (cm) 11.93 Internode length at
midpoint (cm) 2.87 Internode length at terminus (cm) 2.87 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 146A Floricane color at midpoint 144A w/175A tint
Floricane lateral length Medium Floricane lateral strength Medium
Primocane color at base 144A Primocane color at midpoint 144A
w/176A streaks Primocane color at terminus 144A w/185A tint
Table 3 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-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic `Twilight` Mature compound
leaf width (cm) 16.65 Mature compound leaf length (cm) 13.44 Number
of leaflets per floricane compound leaf 3.00 Mature leaflet shape
Ovate Mature leaflet apex Acute Mature leaflet base Roundly
truncate Mature terminal leaflet width (cm) 7.25 Mature terminal
leaflet length (cm) 9.25 Mature first lateral leaflet width (cm)
6.43 Mature first lateral leaflet length (cm) 8.52 Leaflet margin
Serrated Leaflet serration teeth length 0.33 Leaflet serration
teeth width at base 0.38 Pubescence on floricane leaflet: upper
surface Light pubescence Pubescence on floricane leaflet
undersurface Heavy, dense pubescence Floricane leaf color abaxial
137A Floricane leaf color adaxial 138B Petiole length (cm) 5.72
Petiole color adaxial 165A Petiole color abaxial N144D Petiolule
length terminal leaflet (cm) 1.52 Petiolule length first distal
leaflet (cm) 2.11 Petiolule color abaxial 165A Petiolule color
adaxial N144D Stipule length (cm) 1.00 Stipule width (cm) 0.24
Stipule attitude Erect
Table 4 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, the number of sepals per
flower, peduncle length, rachis length, peduncle color, and cyme
type.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Characteristic `Twilight` Date 1.sup.st
bloom May 13 Date full bloom May 20 Date last bloom May 30 Petal
color adaxial and abaxial surfaces 69C Number flowers per cluster
8.83 Number of petals per flower 5.33 Flower diameter (cm) 32.45
Petal length (cm) 14.28 Petal width (cm) 11.33 Petal texture
adaxial and abaxial No pubescence Number of sepals per flower 4.83
Peduncle length (cm) 3.67 Rachis length (cm) 10.85 Peduncle color
N144A streaked w/185A Cyme type Elongate simple cyme
Table 5 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-00005 TABLE 5 Characteristic `Twilight` Date 5% of fruit
were ripe Jul. 10 Date 50% of fruit were ripe Jul. 21 Date 95% of
fruit were ripe Aug. 9 Weight of primary fruit (g) 8.03 Weight of
secondary fruit (g) 5.91 Weight of tertiary fruit (g) 6.00 Diameter
of primary fruit a 2.16 t equator (cm) Diameter of 2 fruit at
equator (cm) 2.22 Diameter of 3 fruit at equator (cm) 2.03 Diameter
of 1 fruit at poles: tip (cm) 1.70 Diameter of 1 fruit at poles:
base (cm) 2.18 Diameter of 2 fruit at poles: tip (cm) 1.70 Diameter
of 2 fruit at poles: base (cm) 2.08 Diameter of 3 fruit at poles:
tip (cm) 1.61 Diameter of 3 fruit at poles: base (cm) 1.96 Berry
length primary fruit (cm) 2.85 Berry length 2 fruit (cm) 2.51 Berry
length 3 fruit (cm) 2.47 Ratio of primary fruit length to width
1.32 Shape description Blocky Uniformity of berry shape Consistent
shape Color when full ripe 203A Number of drupelets per fruit 68.50
Total seed weight per fruit (mg) 199.30 Individual seed weight (mg)
2.96 Glossiness Very glossy Firmness Very firm Flavor Very good
flavor Texture of fruit when chewed Good Drupelet skin resistance
to abrasion Excellent Ease of separation of fruit from pedicel
Medium Machine harvestability Good Resistance to heat damage of
fruit Good Berries per inflorescence - mean 7.50 Berries per
inflorescence range 7-8 Soluble solids (%; in Brix) 13.07 pH 3.51
Titratable acidity (% as citric acid) 8.58 Yield (actual kg plt-1)
9.78 Disease response Under a typical, minimal, disease management
pro- gram does not exhibit any particular disease problems Red
berry mite response Moderate susceptibility
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS
`Twilight` differs from the female parent blackberry plant
`Ouachita` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,762) in that it has a semi-erect
type plant growth habit, is more productive, with larger (8.7 g)
and sweeter (13% Brix) fruit that have a pleasant crispness when
eaten, while `Ouachita` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,762) has an erect
type plant growth habit, is less productive, has smaller (7.0 g)
and less sweet (11% Brix) fruit that, while firm, are not crisp
when eaten.
`Twilight` differs from the male parent blackberry plant `ORUS
2867-4` (unpatented) in that it is 7 days earlier ripening with
large sized (8.7 g) fruit that are firm with a tough skin and have
a lower incidence of fruit defects due to excessive heat and UV
light damage, while `ORUS 2867-4` (unpatented) is 7 days later
ripening with medium-large (7.2 g) fruit that are soft with tender
skin and are prone to heat and UV light damage.
`Twilight` is 7-14 days earlier ripening than other commercial
semi-erect fresh market blackberries such as `Triple Crown`
(unpatented) or `Chester Thornless` (unpatented). `Twilight` ripens
4-5 d later than the semi-erect blackberry `Loch Ness` (U.S. Plant
Pat. No. 6,782), `Eclipse` (U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/731,503), `Galaxy` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,062), and `Von` (U.S.
Plant Pat. No. 27,299). `Twilight` is a fresh market blackberry and
has had excellent fruit quality after 7 days in refrigerated
storage in plastic clam shell packaging at 1.degree. C. compared to
fruit from `Eclipse` (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/731,503),
`Triple Crown` (unpatented), and `Von` (U.S. Plant Pat. No.
27,299). `Twilight` has a pleasantly crisp, firm texture when
eaten, firmer than `Triple Crown` (unpatented), and with fewer
noticeable seeds than `Chester Thornless` (unpatented). `Twilight`
was as high yielding as `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) and
`Triple Crown` (unpatented), and higher yielding than `Eclipse`
(U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/731,503). `Twilight` fruit are
sweeter than those of `Chester Thornless` (unpatented) but not as
sweet as those of `Triple Crown` (unpatented) and comparable to
`Eclipse` (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/731,503).
* * * * *