DrisBlackEight

Blackberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Carmel' and 'Eureka'

Summary: The plants of 'DrisBlackEight' have very few new canes while the plants of 'Carmel' produce a medium number of new canes. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the dormant canes of 'DrisBlackEight' is weak while it is absent to very weak for 'Carmel' and of medium intensity for 'Eureka'. In cross-section, the dormant cane of 'DrisBlackEight' is rounded while the dormant cane of 'Eureka' is angular. There are a medium number of spines on the dormant cane of 'DrisBlackEight' while there are many spines on the dormant cane of 'Eureka'. During rapid growth, the intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the young shoot of 'DrisBlackEight' is strong while it is weak for that of 'Carmel' and of weak to medium intensity for 'Eureka'. During rapid growth, the young shoot of 'DrisBlackEight' is dark green while it is medium green for that of 'Carmel' and light green for 'Eureka'. The terminal leaflet of 'DrisBlackEight' is narrower than that of 'Eureka'. The terminal leaflet of 'DrisBlackEight' is u-shaped while the terminal leaflet of both reference varieties are v-shaped. The leaf of 'DrisBlackEight' has predominantly three leaflets while the leaf of 'Carmel' has five leaflets. The upper side of the leaf of 'DrisBlackEight' is medium green while the leaf of the reference varieties is very light to light green. The stipules on the petiole of 'DrisBlackEight' are small while they are large for 'Carmel' and medium sized for 'Eureka'. 'DrisBlackEight' has a smaller flower diameter than both reference varieties. The flower pedicel of 'DrisBlackEight' has sparse glandular hairs whereas the pedicel of 'Eureka' has dense glandular hairs. There are no prickles on the fruiting lateral of 'DrisBlackEight' while there are few on the fruiting lateral of 'Carmel' and a medium number on that of 'Eureka'. In longitudinal section, the fruit of 'DrisBlackEight' is oblong while the fruit of 'Carmel' is elliptic. On the previous year's cane, 'DrisBlackEight' begins flowering mid-season while 'Carmel' begins late and 'Eureka' begins flowering very late. 'DrisBlackEight' does not fruit on the current year's cane while both reference varieties do produce fruit on the current year's cane.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, very few new canes, non-suckering

DORMANT CANE: weak anthocyanin colouration, many branches, distribution of branches predominantly over whole length of cane, rounded in cross-section
SPINES: medium number, small, outwards attitude of apex in relation to cane

YOUNG SHOOT: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dark green, medium number of glandular hairs

TIME OF LEAF BUD BURST: mid-season
LEAF: predominantly three leaflets per leaf, palmate type, medium green on upper side, medium glossiness of upper side, small stipules
TERMINAL LEAFLET: no lobing, u-shaped in cross-section, weak undulation of margin, medium to strong blistering between veins, shallow to medium depth bi-serrate incisions of margin

BEGINNING OF FLOWERING ON PREVIOUS YEAR'S CANE: mid-season
FLOWER: white, sparse density of glandular hairs on pedicel

BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING ON PREVIOUS YEAR'S CANE: late
FRUITING LATERAL: no prickles
FRUIT: bears on previous year's cane only, medium length/width ratio, oblong in longitudinal cross-section, black
DRUPELETS: many, large

Origin & Breeding History: 'DrisBlackEight' was discovered in Santa Cruz County, California, USA in 2004 originating from a cross conducted in 2003 between 'BH934-7' (proprietary female parent) and 'BH936-6' (male parent). The original seedling was first asexually propagated at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, California in 2004. Initial selection criteria included yield, length of production season and self-fruitful plants. 'DrisBlackEight' was further propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings and underwent testing at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, California from 2010 to 2012.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'DrisBlackEight' was conducted in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Each variety consisted of 3 replicates per variety with 3 plants per replicate for a total of 9 plants of each variety. Plants were spaced approximately 1 metre apart in the row. Measured characteristics were based on 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'DrisBlackEight' with reference varieties 'Carmel' and 'Eureka'

Terminal leaflet width (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Blackberry: 'DrisBlackEight' (left) with reference varieties 'Carmel' (centre) and 'Eureka' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Blackberry: 'DrisBlackEight' (left) with reference varieties 'Carmel' (centre) and 'Eureka' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Blackberry: 'DrisBlackEight' (left) with reference varieties 'Carmel' (centre) and 'Eureka' (right)