Madonna

Raspberry

Variety Description

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

Summary: The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the canes of 'Madonna' is weak to medium whereas it is strong to very strong on 'Maravilla' and medium to strong on 'Heritage'. The canes of 'Madonna' are longer than those of 'Heritage'. The spines on 'Madonna' are purplish brown whereas they are purple on 'Maravilla' and brownish green on 'Heritage'. The leaves of 'Madonna' have predominantly three leaflets per leaf whereas 'Maravilla' has equally three and five leaflets per leaf. The peduncle of 'Madonna' has weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas it is strong on 'Maravilla' and very weak on 'Heritage'. The fruit shape of 'Madonna' is trapezoidal whereas it is medium conical on 'Maravilla' and circular to broad conical on 'Heritage'. The single drupe of 'Madonna' is medium to large in size whereas it is small in 'Heritage'. 'Madonna' begins ripening very late in the season with a short fruiting period whereas 'Heritage' begins ripening late with a medium to long fruiting period.

Description:

PLANT: arching growth habit, medium number of current season's canes, fruit bearing only on current year's cane in autumn, canes emerge late in season, short fruiting period
VERY YOUNG SHOOT: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration at apex during rapid growth

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

LEAF: medium green, predominantly three leaflets per leaf, convex profile in cross-section, strong rugosity, touching to overlapping lateral leaflets
PEDICEL: absent or very few spines

BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: late
PEDUNCLE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: small to medium size

BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: very late
FRUIT: long, medium width, medium length/width ratio, trapezoidal shape in lateral view, medium to large sized single drupe, dark red to purple, medium glossiness and firmness, medium adherence to plug

Origin & Breeding History: 'Madonna' arose from the cross 'R652.1' by 'R709.1' made in 1997 at Cassin Ranch, Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, USA. Fruit and seed were collected to produce seedlings for field planting in 1997 in Watsonville, California. Selection criteria included fruit size, firmness and overall structure.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Madonna' 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 'Madonna' with reference varieties 'Maravilla' and 'Heritage'

Current season's cane length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Raspberry: 'Madonna' (top right) with reference varieties 'Maravilla' (top left) and 'Heritage' (bottom)

Click on image for larger view

Raspberry: 'Madonna' (top left) with reference varieties 'Heritage' (top right) and 'Maravilla' (bottom)