Botanical denomination: Myrica rubra.
Variety designation: ‘N1MR06’.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Red Bayberry, botanically known as Myrica rubra, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘N1MR06’.
‘N1MR06’ is the product of a selection program started by the inventor in 2002 in a cultivated area of Knoxfield, Victoria, Australia. The primary focus of the selection program is to produce new cultivars of Red Bayberry with fruit having improved sweetness, a good sugar:acid ratio, a palatable low resin taste along with uniform fruit size and colour.
‘N1MR06’ was selected in 2008 from a mature planting of twelve cutting-propagated genotypes which the inventor had originally grown from out-crossed seed collected from China. The inventor is unable to identify either the male or the female parent. A later planting comprising 141 seedlings from a second batch of seed were evaluated for fruit quality in 2010. The combination of traits displayed by ‘N1MR06’ was not found in any of the 141 seedlings. Hence, ‘N1MR06’ is considered to be a unique cultivar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cultivar ‘N1MR0’ was asexually reproduced by clonal propagation, using cuttings or by grafting onto rootstock in Gatton, Queensland, Australia. The original clonal propagation to produce the variety was conducted via vegetative tip cuttings.
The cultivar ‘N1MR06’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, without however any change in genotype.
The following traits have been observed and represent the characteristics of the new Myrica rubra cultivar ‘N1MR06’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘N1MR06’ from all other varieties of Myrica rubra known to the inventor.
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- 1. Mean fruit diameter is 21.4 mm.
- 2. Mean fruit weight is 5.87 g.
- 3. Fruit colour is red-black.
- 4. Mean fruit flesh total soluble solids (an indicator of sweetness) is 12.0° Brix.
- 5. Mean fruit flesh titratable acidity is 1.41%.
- 6. Fruit harvest season in the southern hemisphere is early-mid November.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a digital image showing representative fruit of ‘N1MR06’, ‘N1MR07’, and ‘N1MR09’ displaying the variation in fruit size, shape and colour; harvested November 2011 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia.
FIG. 2 is a digital image showing the whole plant of ‘N1MR06’ in Nambour, Queensland, Australia.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION The following description describes the Myrica rubra cultivar ‘N1MR06’ at 7 years. The vegetative propagule was observed in a test plot maintained with standard management practices for commercial bayberry production in Nambour, Queensland, Australia. Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and colour, may change with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors). Colour descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Colour designations are based on the CIE L.C.h colour model and were measured using a Konica Minolta CR-400 Chroma Meter.
- Botanical classification: Myrica rubra.
- Parentage:
-
- Female parent plant.—Unknown.
- Male parent plant.—Unknown.
- Plant:
-
- Vigor.—General observations of ‘N1MR06’ plantings indicate average plant vigor.
- Plant habit.—Branched shrub, elongate in shape; can be limbed up into a multi-trunked small tree.
- Plant dimensions.—Height 3.6 m, Width 3.4 m.
- Plant hardiness.—USDA Zone 9 (potentially ranging from 8 to 10).
- Type.—Evergreen shrub.
- Disease resistance.—No disease resistance data available for foliar or root pathogens.
- Fruit:
-
- Shape.—Spherical.
- Size.—In Nambour, Queensland, Australia, average diameter was 21.4 mm.
- Skin.—Knobby (papillate).
- Colour.—Red-black. CIE L.C.h color measurements are as follows: Lightness (L)=17.99±0.26; Chroma (C)=19.60±0.78; Hue (h)=14.54±0.33.
- Weight.—In Nambour, Queensland, Australia, average weight was 5.87 g.
- Number of seeds.—One.
- Flesh.—Pink-red.
- Fruit chemistry.—Samples of fruit were harvested from test plots in Nambour, Queensland, Australia and evaluated for fruit chemistry. Average fruit flesh total soluble solids were 12.0° Brix and average fruit flesh titratable acidity was 1.41%.
- Fruit production.—Early — mid November.
- Leaf:
-
- Length (mm).—95.6±1.5.
- Width (mm).—29.50±0.5.
- Shape.—Oblanceolate.
- Margin type.—Entire.
- Texture (upper surface).—Glabrous.
- Texture (lower surface).—Glabrous.
- Fragrance.—Mildly fragrant when bruised.
- Color (upper surface).—139A (Light=32; Chroma=16; hue=146).
- Color (lower surface).—147B (Light=47; Chroma=21; hue=112).
- Apex shape.—Acute to obtuse, rarely retuse.
- Base shape.—Cuneate.
- Leaf bud:
-
- Axillary bud length (mm).—3.13±0.09.
- Axillary bud shape.—Ovoid to ovoid-conical.
- Axillary bud number per axil.—1.10±0.07.
- Axillary bud colour.—165C (Light=67; Chroma=38; hue=65).
- Petiole:
-
- Length (mm).—9.07±0.23.
- Surface texture.—Glabrous.
- Color.—152D (Light=62; Chroma=46; hue=88).
- Stem:
-
- Shape.—Round.
- Surface texture.—Woody.
- Presence/absence of lenticel.—Present.
- Color.—N199A (Light=38; Chroma=15; Hue=76).
- Flower:
-
- Monoecious or dioecious.—Dioecious.
- Flower form.—Incomplete, lacks petals and sepals.
- Flowering season.—Late winter to early spring.
- Flower colour.—None, flowers are apetalous.
- Average number of flowers per inflorescence.—13.96±4.686.
- Average inflorescence length.—15.98 mm±0.86.
- Size.—Very small and inconspicuous.
- Peduncle:
-
- Average peduncle length.—4.54 mm±1.435.
- Reproductive organs:
-
- Number of pistils per flower.—2. The variety produces pistillate flowers only.
- Seeds:
-
- Length (mm).—10.60±0.14.
- Width (mm).—8.63±0.12.
- Thickness (mm).—7.27±0.12.
- Shape.—Broad elliptic to broad obovate.
- Color.—165D (Light=78; Chroma=31; hue=71).
- Shipping and storage characteristics: Fruit decay severity after 15 d storage at 5° C.: slight. This data is preliminary (based on fruit harvested from a single location) and may have been affected by environmental conditions.
- Pollination requirement: Dioecious. Cross-pollination by wind.
TABLE 1
Comparison of characteristics of ‘N1MR06’, ‘N1MR07’, and ‘N1MR09’
Characteristic ‘N1MR09’ ‘N1MR06’ ‘N1MR07’
Tree: habit spreading semi-upright upright
Tree: compactness standard compact standard
Tree: vigour medium to strong strong
strong
Leaf blade: length medium medium medium
Leaf blade: width broad broad medium
Leaf blade: ratio length/width small medium medium
Leaf blade: shape of tip blunt acute blunt acute blunt acute
Leaf blade: shape in cross concave concave concave
section
Leaf blade: green colour of medium dark medium
upper side
Leaf: attitude in relation to upwards upwards upwards
shoot
Fruit: size medium medium large
Fruit: firmness of flesh medium firm soft to medium
Fruit: total soluble solids of high high medium
juice
Fruit: acid content of juice high high medium
Time of: beginning of early medium medium
flowering
Time of: fruit maturity early early medium
Fruit: Skin protruberances moderate moderate moderate
Fruit: Uniformity of even even uneven
protruberances
Fruit: Colour of flesh pink-white pink-red pink-white
Fruit: Drop or shed before high low low
harvest
Shoot: internode length medium medium long
Leaf: Colour - underside of light green light green very light green
leaf
Leaf: Undulating margin slightly undulating slightly
undulating undulating
Shoot : Size of lenticels large medium large
Shoot: Density of lenticels sparse dense medium
Flower: Number of flowers medium high high
per inflorescence
Fruit: Colour of skin light dark medium
Fruit: Yield medium medium high
Leaf: Number of buds per multiple mainly single single
leaf axil
Leaf: Petiole length medium medium medium
Fruit: Resinous taste absent absent absent
Shoot: Colour of juvenile black red black red black red
shoot
Shoot: Colour of juvenile leaf dark red medium red dark red
tips
Flower: Peduncle length medium long medium
Fruit: Seed weight medium low medium
TABLE 2
Comparison of characteristics of ‘N1MR06’ and Morella rubra cv. ‘Biqi’
Characteristic ‘N1MR06’ ‘Biqi’
Tree: habit semi-upright semi-upright
Tree: compactness compact standard
Tree: vigour strong strong
Leaf blade: length medium medium
Leaf blade: width broad narrow
Leaf blade: ratio length/width medium large
Leaf blade: shape of tip blunt acute blunt acute
Leaf blade: shape in cross section concave concave
Leaf blade: green colour of upper side dark dark
Leaf: attitude in relation to shoot upwards upwards
Fruit: size medium medium
Fruit: firmness of flesh firm medium
Fruit: total soluble solids of juice high medium
Fruit: acid content of juice high medium
Time of: beginning of flowering medium early
Time of: fruit maturity early medium
Fruit: Skin protruberances moderate strong
Fruit: Uniformity of protruberances even even
Fruit: Colour of flesh pink-red pink-white
Fruit: Resinous taste absent present
Fruit: Drop or shed before harvest low low
Shoot: internode length medium medium
Shoot : Size of lenticels medium small
Shoot: Density of lenticels dense medium
Shoot: Colour of juvenile shoot black red red
Leaf: Colour - underside of leaf light green light green
Leaf: Undulating margin undulating slightly
undulating
Leaf: Colour of juvenile leaf tips medium red medium red
Flower: Peduncle length long medium
Flower: Number of flowers per inflorescence high medium
Fruit: Colour of skin dark medium
Fruit: Yield medium high
Leaf: Number of buds per leaf axil mainly single single
Leaf: Petiole length medium high
Fruit: weight of seed low high
TABLE 3
Comparison of characteristics of ‘N1MR06’, ‘N1MR07’, and ‘N1MR09’
Morphological Genotype
characteristic N1MR06 N1MR07 N1MR09
Leaf length (mm) 95.6 ± 1.5 100.4 ± 2.1 91.1 ± 1.5
Leaf width (mm) 29.50 ± 0.5 29.87 ± 0.62 27.97 ± 0.56
Leaf shape oblanceolate oblanceolate oblanceolate
Leaf margin type entire entire entire
Leaf texture glabrous glabrous glabrous
(upper surface)
Leaf texture glabrous glabrous glabrous
(lower surface)
Leaf fragrance mildly fragrant mildly fragrant mildly fragrant
when bruised when bruised when bruised
Leaf colour 139A (Light = 32; 139A (Light = 139A (Light =
(upper surface) Chroma = 16; 32; Chroma = 32; Chroma =
hue = 146) 16; hue = 146) 16; hue = 146)
Leaf colour 147B (Light = 47; 147B (Light = 147B (Light =
(lower surface) Chroma = 21; 47; Chroma = 47; Chroma =
hue = 112) 21; hue = 112) 21; hue = 112)
Leaf apex shape acute to obtuse, acute to obtuse, acute to obtuse,
rarely retuse rarely retuse rarely retuse
Leaf base shape cuneate cuneate cuneate
Axillary bud 3.13 ± 0.09 2.63 ± 0.10 4.50 ± 0.12
length (mm)
Axillary bud ovoid to ovoid- ovoid to ovoid- ovoid to ovoid-
shape conical conical conical
Axillary bud 1.10 ± 0.07 1.00 ± 0.00 5.20 ± 0.22
number per axil
Axillary bud 165C (Light = 67; 153D (Light = 165C (Light =
colour Chroma = 38; 72; Chroma = 67; Chroma = 38;
hue = 65) 58; hue = 88) hue = 65)
Number of scales could not be could not be could not be
per leaf bud determined determined determined
Petiole length 9.07 ± 0.23 9.20 ± 0.37 10.27 ± 0.24
Petiole surface glabrous glabrous glabrous
texture
Petiole colour 152D (Light = 62; 152D (Light = 152D (Light =
Chroma = 46; 62; Chroma = 62; Chroma =
hue = 88) 46; hue = 88) 46; hue = 88)
Stem shape round round round
Stem surface woody woody woody
texture
Presence/absence present present present
of lenticel on
stem
Stem colour N199A (Light = N199A (Light = 199B (Light =
38; Chroma = 15; 38; Chroma = 54; Chroma = 20;
Hue = 76) 15; Hue = 76) hue = 74)
Monoecious or dioecious dioecious dioecious
dioecious
Flower form incomplete, lacks incomplete, incomplete, lacks
petals and sepals lacks petals and petals and sepals
sepals
Flowering season late winter to early late winter to late winter to
spring early spring early spring
Flower colour none, flowers are none, flowers none, flowers are
apetalous are apetalous apetalous
Number of species is species is dioe- species is dioe-
stamens per dioecious, variety cious, variety cious, variety
flower produces pistillate produces pistil- produces pistil-
flowers only late flowers only late flowers only
Number of pistils 2 2 2
per flower
Stamen size species is species is dioe- species is dioe-
dioecious, variety cious, variety cious, variety
produces pistillate produces pistil- produces pistil-
flowers only late flowers only late flowers only
Stamen colour species is species is dioe- species is dioe-
dioecious, variety cious, variety cious, variety
produces pistillate produces pistil- produces pistil-
flowers only late flowers only late flowers only
Pollen colour species is species is dioe- species is dioe-
dioecious, variety cious, variety cious, variety
produces pistillate produces pistil- produces pistil-
flowers only late flowers only late flowers only
Seed length 10.60 ± 0.14 12.13 ± 0.16 12.23 ± 0.13
(mm)
Seed width (mm) 8.63 ± 0.12 9.30 ± 0.13 10.03 ± 0.14
Seed thickness 7.27 ± 0.12 8.63 ± 0.10 8.63 ± 0.10
(mm)
Seed shape broad elliptic to broad elliptic to broad elliptic to
broad obovate broad obovate broad obovate
Seed colour 165D (Light = 78; 165D (Light = 165D (Light =
Chroma = 31; 78; Chroma = 78; Chroma =
hue = 71) 31; hue = 71) 31; hue = 71)
Fruit decay slight severe moderate
severity after 15
d storage at 5° C.
Quantitative data are provided as means ± standard error of the mean for n = 30 samples. Leaf and petiole measurements were conducted on mature, fully expanded leaves harvested at shoulder height. Vegetative and floral axillary buds are identical in appearance until bud burst or leaf expansion becomes evident. Hence, no distinction is made between the type of axillary bud.
Colour measurements were made using the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (5th edition) and converted to CIE LCh values using online tables at rhscf.orgfree.com (accessed 10 Mar. 2016). Seed measurements were conducted on seed with intact endocarp (i.e., the stone)
