Dulcita

Raspberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Cardinal' and 'Heritage'

Summary: 'Dulcita' has few to medium number of current season's canes whereas 'Cardinal' has medium to many and 'Heritage' has many. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the canes of 'Dulcita' is medium to strong whereas it is weak to medium on 'Cardinal'. The canes of 'Dulcita' are shorter than those of 'Heritage'. The density of spines on 'Dulcita' is very sparse whereas it is sparse to medium on 'Cardinal' and 'Heritage'. The spines of 'Dulcita' are purplish brown to brownish purple whereas they are brownish green on 'Heritage'. 'Dulcita' has equally three and five leaflets per leaf whereas 'Cardinal' and 'Heritage' have predominantly three. The peduncle of 'Dulcita' has weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas it is very weak on 'Cardinal' and 'Heritage'. 'Dulcita' begins ripening mid-season with a short to medium length fruiting period whereas 'Heritage' begins ripening late with a medium to long fruiting period.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit, few to medium amount of current season's canes, fruit bearing only on current year's cane in autumn, canes emerge mid-season, short to medium length fruiting period
VERY YOUNG SHOOT: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of apex during rapid growth

CURRENT SEASON'S CANE: weak waxiness, medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, short internode, short to medium length vegetative bud
DORMANT CANE: purplish brown
SPINES: present, very sparse density, small base, short length, purplish brown to brownish purple

LEAF: medium green, equally three and five leaflets per leaf, convex profile in cross-section, strong rugosity, touching to overlapping lateral leaflets
PEDICEL: few spines

BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: mid-season
PEDUNCLE: weak to medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: small to medium size

BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: mid-season
FRUIT: medium length and width, small length/width ratio, circular to broad conical shape in lateral view, small sized single drupe, dark red, weak glossiness, medium firmness, medium adherence to plug

Origin & Breeding History: 'Dulcita' arose from the cross 'Gloria' by 'N257.1' made in 1994 at Cassin Ranch, Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, USA. Fruit and seed were collected to produce seedlings for field planting in 1994 in Watsonville, California. Selection criteria included fruit firmness, sweetness of fruit flavour and easy separation of fruit from the receptacle.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Dulcita' were conducted in Oxford Station, Ontario during the 2011 growing season. There were 20 plants of each variety, planted in the spring of 2009. Plants were spaced approximately 60 cm apart in the row and spaced approximately 0.65 metres apart between rows. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison table for 'Dulcita' with reference varieties 'Cardinal' and 'Heritage'

Current season's cane length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Raspberry: 'Dulcita' (top right) with reference varieties 'Cardinal' (top left) and 'Heritage' (bottom)