Saanich

Raspberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Tulameen' and 'Meeker'

Summary: Vegetative bud burst is very early for 'Saanich' whereas it is early for 'Tulameen' and mid-season for 'Meeker'. The spines of 'Saanich' are very sparse in the middle third of the current season's cane whereas they are sparse on 'Tulameen' and sparse to medium on 'Meeker'. 'Saanich' has predominantly five leaflets per leaf whereas 'Tulameen' has equally three and five leaflets and 'Meeker' has three. Single drupes of 'Saanich' are small whereas they are medium-sized on 'Tulameen'. The fruit of 'Saanich' is medium red to light red whereas they are dark red for both reference varieties. The fruit of 'Saanich' is firm whereas it is medium firm for 'Meeker'. The fruit of 'Saanich' has weak adherence to the plug whereas that of 'Tulameen' has medium adherence.

Description:

PLANT: upright, medium to many current season's canes, fruit bearing only on previous year's cane in summer
VERY YOUNG SHOOT: moderate anthocyanin colouration at apex during rapid growth

CANE: very early vegetative bud burst, medium to strong bloom, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, short internode, dormant cane brownish grey in colour
SPINES: very sparse

LEAF: medium green, predominantly five leaflets per leaf, straight profile in cross-section, weak rugosity, lateral leaflets are touching

FLOWERING: mid to late season
PEDICEL: very few spines
PEDUNCLE: no anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: medium to large size

FRUIT RIPENING: mid-season
FRUITING LATERAL: semi-erect
FRUIT: medium to long, medium to broad, medium length/width ratio, conical in lateral view, small drupe, medium to light red, medium to strong glossiness, firm, weak adherence to plug
FRUITING PERIOD: long

DISEASE RESISTANCE: resistance to North American vector of Raspberry Mosaic Virus Complex, moderately tolerant to Raspberry Bush Dwarf Virus and spur blight and moderately susceptible to Cane Botrytis and Anthracnose

Origin & Breeding History: 'Saanich' (experimental designation 'BC89-34-41') resulted from the cross 'BC82-5-161' x 'BC80-28-50', which was made in 1989 at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Agassiz, British Columbia. Fifteen asexual propagations were planted in a trial block in Agassiz in 1992. Evaluation of the selection began at fruiting. The selection criteria were fruit appearance, taste, flesh texture, harvest timing, plant quality, productivity and precocity.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Saanich' were conducted at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Clearbrook Substation, near Abbotsford, British Columbia from 1999 to 2004 and confirmed during the 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Three replicates of each variety were planted in randomized complete block design with 0.9 metres between plants and 3 metres between the rows. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Saanich' with reference varieties 'Tulameen' and 'Meeker'

Dormant cane length (cm)

Length of fruiting lateral cane (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Raspberry: 'Saanich' (left) with reference varieties 'Tulameen' (centre) and 'Meeker' (right)