Autumn Britten

Raspberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Autumn Bliss'

Summary: The number of leaflets per leaf is usually three for 'Autumn Britten' whereas it is usually five for 'Autumn Bliss'. The relative position of the lateral leaflets within the leaf ranges from not touching to touching for 'Autumn Britten' while it ranges from touching to overlapping for 'Autumn Bliss'. 'Autumn Britten' has longer terminal leaflets, larger flowers and spinier pedicels than 'Autumn Bliss'. The fruit length to width ratio for 'Autumn Britten' is longer than broad while it is as long as broad for 'Autumn Bliss'. The general shape of the fruit in lateral view is conical for 'Autumn Britten' whereas it is broad conical for 'Autumn Bliss'. 'Autumn Britten' has lighter red fruit and a larger calyx diameter relative to its fruit than 'Autumn Bliss'.

Description:

PLANT: fruit bearing only on current year's cane in autumn, medium length fruiting period, ever-bearing when grown under greenhouse conditions
VERY YOUNG SHOOT: no anthocyanin colouration at apex

CANE: medium glaucosity, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, medium length internode, medium length vegetative bud
SPINE: medium to dense, medium sized base, medium to long, purple

LEAF: medium to dark green
LEAFLET: predominantly three per leaf, convex in cross-section, weak rugosity between veins, relative position within leaf is not touching to touching

FLOWERING: begins early
PEDICEL: many spines
PEDUNCLE: no anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: large

FRUIT RIPENING: begins early
FRUIT: medium to long, medium width, length/width ratio is longer than broad, conical in lateral view, medium size drupe, medium red, weak glossiness, soft, moderate adherence to plug, calyx is larger in diameter than fruit

Origin & Breeding History: 'Autumn Britten' is the result of a controlled cross made in 1974 between 'EM 2806/86' and 'EM 2335/47'. The parentage includes Rubus strigosus Michx., R. arcticus L., R. occidentalis L., and the red raspberry varieties 'Malling Landmark', 'Malling Promise', 'Lloyd George', 'Pyne's Royal', 'Burnetholm' and 'Norfolk Giant'. 'Autumn Britten' was grown at Horticultural Research International in East Malling, United Kingdom and selected in 1976 based on its early fall fruiting, large fruit size and good fruit colour. Initial trials were conducted at the National Fruit Trials in Brogden, United Kingdom form 1977 to 1983. Material was sent to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Research Station in Kentville, Nova Scotia in 1980 and it's Pacific Agriculture Research Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1983. Trials were also conducted at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario's Horticultural Experiment Station in Simcoe, Ontario from 1987 to 1991.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Autumn Britten' were conducted in 2006 at the University of Guelph's Department of Plant Agriculture - Simcoe Campus in Simcoe, Ontario. The trial included 25 plants of the candidate variety and 23 plants of the reference variety. Each plant was grown in a 21.5 cm pot filled with a commercial soil-less mix and grown in a greenhouse. The pots were spaced 30 cm apart and the canes were hand tied to overhead support wires.

Comparison table for 'Autumn Britten' with reference variety 'Autumn Bliss'

Terminal leaflet length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Raspberry: 'Autumn Britten' (right) with reference variety 'Autumn Bliss' (left)