Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rubus idaeus.
Variety denomination: ‘ELEGANCE’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct fall bearing raspberry variety designated as ‘ELEGANCE’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2001 between raspberry variety ‘PS-1703’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,151) and raspberry variety ‘PS-1720’ (unpatented) in an ongoing breeding program. The variety is botanically known as Rubus idaeus.
The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexually propagated by dormant canes in Santa Cruz County, Calif., and was subsequently selected by the inventors from a controlled breeding plot in Watsonville, Calif. in 2003. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated by dormant canes, roots and non-dormant root shoot cuttings in Santa Cruz County, Calif., San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was then extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Santa Cruz County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘ELEGANCE’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary year-round temperatures required for it to produce and maintain a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from July through December on primocanes and in the ensuing year from May through July on the floricanes. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, which in combination distinguish this raspberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
-
- 1. Early floricane time of fruiting;
- 2. Weak primocane glaucosity;
- 3. Light brown floricane color;
- 4. Predominant leaflet number of 3; and
- 5. Strong fruit gloss.
The raspberry varieties that are believed to be most closely related to the new raspberry variety ‘ELEGANCE’ are the raspberry variety ‘PS-1049’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,142), and the parental, raspberry variety ‘PS-1703’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,151). In comparison to the similar raspberry varieties ‘PS-1049’ and ‘PS-1703’, ‘ELEGANCE’ differs by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 1:
TABLE 1
‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’
Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151)
1. Primocane waxy coat Weak Strong Ranges from
(glaucosity) medium to strong
2. Predominate number of Mostly 3 Equal 3-5 Mostly 5
leaflets
3. Floricane time of fruiting Early Medium Medium
4. Floricane color RHS 161C RHS 166C RHS 164A
Greyed-yellow Greyed-orange Greyed-orange
group group group
5. Primocane lateral length (cm) 25.8 35.6 48.8
6. Primocane % of cane length 37% 42% 52%
fruiting
7. Primocane color RHS 145A RHS 154C RHS 145D
Yellow-green Yellow-green Yellow-green
group group group
8. Color mature fruit RHS 47B RHS 46A RHS 53A
Red group Red group Red group
9. Gloss mature fruit Strong Medium Strong
For identification, a series of AFLP molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new raspberry variety, ‘ELEGANCE’ at various stages of development as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘ELEGANCE’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new raspberry variety ‘ELEGANCE’ were taken in Watsonville, Calif. and are approximately 2 to 16 months old:
FIG. 1. shows typical primocane foliage and fruit color; foliate and rugosity characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of August 2008;
FIG. 2 shows typical primocane foliage and fruit color; foliate and rugosity characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of September 2008;
FIG. 3 shows typical harvested fruit of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of July 2009; and
FIG. 4 shows typical dormant cane color characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of February 2007.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION ‘ELEGANCE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, and location.
The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new raspberry variety ‘ELEGANCE’, unless otherwise noted, are based upon observations taken during the 2008 to 2009 growing season in Watsonville, Calif. Primocane measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘ELEGANCE’ dug from a nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during the middle of October 2007 and planted approximately 7 to 8 weeks later in Watsonville, Calif. The approximate age of the observed primocane plants is 7 to 8 months. Floricane measurements and ratings were taken from the same planting of ‘ELEGANCE’ at an approximate age of 16 to 18 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from three years of data collected from the 2006 through 2008 production seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted. Foliage characteristics and measurements are from 3-foliate foliage unless otherwise noted.
Color terminology where noted follows The R.H.S. Colour Chart, Royal Horticultural Society, London, England 2007.
The following Tables 2-6 describe fruit, plant, foliage, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new raspberry ‘ELEGANCE’ in comparison to the similar raspberry varieties ‘PS-1049’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,142) and ‘PS-1703’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,151).
TABLE 2
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’
Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151)
Color mature fruit RHS 47B RHS 46A RHS 53A
Red group Red group Red group
Color achenes RHS 164D RHS 164D RHS 164D
Greyed-orange Greyed-orange Greyed-orange
group group group
Fruit Length (cm) 1.9 1.9 2.0
Fruit Width (cm) 1.8 1.8 1.9
Length/Width Ratio 1.0 1.1 1.1
Slightly longer Slightly longer Slightly longer
than broad than broad than broad
Seed weight (mg) 1.4 1.5 1.5
Druplets per berry 70 73 78
Fruit size Medium Medium Medium
Predominant shape Conical Conical Conical
Evenness of color Even Even Even
Glossiness Strong Medium Strong
Adherence to Weak to medium Weak Weak
receptacle
Firmness of flesh Very firm Very firm Firm
Firmness of skin Very firm Very firm Medium
Soluble Solids 9.5 9.2 10.3
(% brix)
Flavor Very Good Good Excellent
TABLE 3
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’
Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151)
General:
Habit Upright Semi-upright Semi-upright
Size Medium Medium Medium
Productivity Medium to high Medium to high High
Self fruitfulness Yes Yes Yes
Type of bearing Everbearing Everbearing Everbearing
Primocane:
Color RHS 145A RHS 154C RHS 145D
Yellow-green Yellow-green Yellow-green
group group group
Length (m) 1.9 1.7 1.6
Basal diameter (mm) 12.1 14.8 12.4
Diameter central 1/3 (mm) 11.0 11.9 11.4
Lateral length (cm) 25.8 35.6 48.8
No. fruiting laterals 20 16 19
per cane
% of cane length fruiting 37% 42% 52%
Internode length at 5.8 5.2 4.8
central 1/3 (cm)
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 59B RHS 59C RHS 59B
Anthocyanin intensity Weak Weak to medium Medium to strong
Pubescence Absent Absent Absent
Length of vegetative bud Short Medium to short Medium to short
Strength of waxy coat Weak Strong Ranges from
medium to strong
Time of flowering Medium Medium Early
Time of fruiting Medium Medium Early
Length of fruiting season Long Long Long
% of total yield 42% 47% 47%
Flowering period Late June to Late June to Early June to
late November late November late November
Harvest period Late July to Late July to Early July to
late December late December late December
Primocane fruit weight (g) 2.6 2.6 2.9
Primocane yield (g/plant) 1,587 1,862 2,241
Young Shoots:
Number Medium Medium Medium
Anthocyanin coloration Present Present Present
Anthocyanin intensity Weak to Very weak to Weak to
medium weak medium
Thorns:
Color RHS 59B RHS 59B RHS 59B
Red-purple Red-purple Red-purple
group group group
Length at central 1/3 (mm) 1.5 2.4 1.8
Presence on cane Present Present Present
Density on cane Medium Medium Medium to dense
Texture Rigid Rigid Rigid
Attitude of the tip Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal
Floricane:
Color RHS 161C RHS 166C RHS 164A
Greyed-yellow Greyed-orange Greyed-orange
group group group
Length (M) 1.5 1.3 1.3
Length vegetative bud Short Medium to short Medium to short
Strength of waxy coat Weak Strong Ranges from
(glaucosity) medium to strong
Fruiting lateral attitude Erect to semi- Erect to semi- Horizontal to
erect erect drooping
Time of bud burst Medium-Early Medium Medium
Time of flowering Medium-Early Medium Medium
Time of fruiting Early Medium Medium
Length of fruiting season Medium to long Medium to long Medium to long
% of total yield 58% 53% 53%
Flowering period Late March to Late April to Mid April to
Late June Late June Late June
Harvest period Mid April to Late May to Early May to
Late July Late July Late July
Floricane fruit weight (g) 2.7 2.5 2.9
Floricane yield (g/plant) 2,199 2,145 2,497
TABLE 4
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’
‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151)
Characteristic (3 Foliate) (3 Foliate) (5 Foliate)
General:
Color of upper surface RHS 139A RHS 138A RHS N137A
Green group Green group Green group
Color of lower surface RHS 190B RHS 190C RHS 190B
Greyed-green Greyed-green Greyed-green
group group group
Shape in cross section Ranges from Slightly concave Ranges from
slightly concave to slightly convex to
strongly concave slightly concave
Arrangement Compound Compound Compound
Relief between veins Medium to strong Medium Medium to strong
Glossiness Weak Weak Medium
Number of leaflets/leaf Mostly 3 Equal 3-5 Mostly 5
Terminal Leaflet:
Length(cm) 11.1 12.2 10.7
Width (cm) 7.2 8.0 5.3
Length/Width Ratio 1.5 1.5 2.0
Longer than broad Longer than broad Much longer than
broad
Size Medium to large Medium to large Medium to small
Shape Lobed cordate Cordate Lobed oblique
Shape of base Cordate Cordate Acute
Shape of tip Acuminate Acuminate Acuminate
Margins Biserrate Biserrate Biserrate
Lateral Leaflet:
Length (cm) 9.2 9.9 9.5
Width (cm) 5.6 6.1 5.5
Rachis length (cm) 1.6 2.8 1.7
Orientation Opposite Opposite Opposite
Arrangement Compound Compound Compound
Shape Ovate Ovate Oblique
Overlapping Touching Touching Free
Shape of the base Acute obtuse Oblique rounded Acute oblique
Shape of the tip Acuminate Acuminate Acuminate
Margins Biserrate Biserrate Biserrate
Petiole:
Length (cm) 3.9 4.4 5.3
Width (mm) 2.7 2.4 2.7
Thorn presence Yes Yes Yes
Thorn orientation Erect Erect Erect
Anthocyanin coloration Red-purple Red-purple Greyed-purple
of upper surface RHS 60A RHS 58A RHS 187B
Intensity of anthocyanin Weak Weak Strong
coloration
Pigmentation of Yellow-green Yellow-green Yellow-green
lower surface RHS 145B RHS 145C RHS 145C
Stipule length (cm) 0.9 0.9 0.9
Stipule orientation Erect Erect Erect
TABLE 5
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’
Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151)
Petal color RHS 155C RHS 155C RHS 155C
White group White group White group
Flower diameter (cm) 1.6 1.8 1.5
Petal Length (mm) 6.4 6.1 6.0
Petalwidth(mm) 3.2 3.1 3.0
Petal length/width 2.0 2.0 2.0
ratio Much longer Much longer Much longer
than broad than broad than broad
No. petals/flower 5.2 5.1 5.3
No. sepals/flower 5.2 5.1 5.3
Pedicel no. spines Many Many Medium
Peduncle anthocyanin Present Present Present
presence
Peduncle anthocyanin RHS 60A RHS 59C RHS 187C
color Red-purple Red-purple Greyed-purple
group group group
Peduncle anthocyanin Weak Very weak Weak
intensity
TABLE 6
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’
Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151)
Two spotted spider Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible
mite
Grey fruit mold Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible
Powdery mildew Moderately Moderately Moderately
Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible
Yellow rust Moderately Moderately Moderately
Resistant Susceptible Resistant
