Latin name of the genus and species of the plant clamed: Rubus idaeus.
Variety denomination: ‘NOBILITY’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct fall bearing raspberry variety designated as ‘NOBILITY’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in Watsonville, Calif. by the inventor, Scott W. Adams, in 2009 between raspberry variety designated ‘04.3721’ (unpatented) as the female parent and raspberry variety ‘RADIANCE’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,342) as the male parent in an ongoing breeding program. The variety is botanically known as Rubus idaeus and was tested as ‘PS-09.082-06’ and ‘PS-8206’.
The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexually propagated by dormant canes in Santa Cruz County, Calif. and was subsequently selected by the inventor from a controlled breeding plot in Watsonville, Calif. in 2011. 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. and Ventura 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 ‘NOBILITY’ 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 floricanes. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘NOBILITY’, which in combination distinguish this raspberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
-
- 1. Long spine length
- 2. Short internode length
- 3. Early primocane time of fruiting
- 4. Medium red fruit color
- 5. Weak primocane glaucosity
- 6. Very good flavor
The raspberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new raspberry variety ‘NOBILITY’ is the raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459). In comparison to the similar raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’, ‘NOBILITY’ differs by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 1:
COMPARISON BETWEEN NOBILITY AND GRANDEUR TABLE 1
‘GRANDEUR’
Characteristic ‘NOBILITY’ (US PP20,459)
Primocane waxy coat (glaucosity) Weak Absent to
very weak
Predominate number of leaflets Mostly 3 Always 3
Primocane time of fruiting Early Medium
Rugosity Medium Strong
Color mature fruit RHS 45A RHS 42A
Medium red Medium red
Thorn length at central 1/3 (mm) 3.04 0.76
Floricane coloration (true) RHS 165B RHS 164A
Greyed- Greyed-
orange group orange group
‘NOBILITY’ differs from its parents, ‘04.3721’ and ‘RADIANCE’ by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 2:
COMPARISON BETWEEN NOBILITY, 04.3721 AND RADIANCE TABLE 2
’RADIANCE’
Characteristic ‘NOBILITY’ ’04.3721’ (US PP20,342)
Productivity Medium Medium Medium
Glossiness (fruit) High Medium Medium
Firmness (fruit) High Medium to low High
Adherence of receptacle Very weak Strong Weak
Primocane time Early Medium Early
of fruiting
Fruit size Medium Large Small
Flavor Very good Poor Excellent
For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new raspberry variety ‘NOBILITY’ 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 ‘NOBILITY’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new raspberry variety ‘NOBILITY’ were taken in Watsonville, Calif. and are approximately two to sixteen months old:
FIG. 1 shows typical primocane foliage and fruit color, foliate and rugosity characteristics of ‘NOBILITY’ taken in the month of July 2018;
FIG. 2 shows typical green fruit, pedicels and peduncles of ‘NOBILITY’ taken in the month of September 2019;
FIG. 3 shows typical harvested fruit of ‘NOBILITY’ taken in the month of July 2018; and
FIG. 4 shows typical dormant cane color characteristics of ‘NOBILITY’ taken in the month of February 2019.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION ‘NOBILITY’ 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 ‘NOBILITY’, unless otherwise noted, are based upon observations taken during the 2018-2019 growing season in Watsonville, Calif. Primocane measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘NOBILITY’ dug from a nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during the middle of October 2017 and planted approximately three to four weeks later in Watsonville, Calif. The approximate age of the observed primocane plants is seven to eight months. Floricane measurements and ratings were taken from the same planting of ‘NOBILITY’ at an approximate age of sixteen to eighteen months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from three years of data collected from the 2017 through 2019 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 Fifth Edition, Royal Horticultural Society, London, United Kingdom (1966).
The following tables 3-7 describe fruit, plant, foliage, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new raspberry ‘NOBILITY’ in comparison to the similar raspberry variety ‘GRANDEUR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,459).
COMPARISON BETWEEN NOBILITY AND GRANDEUR TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
‘GRANDUER’
Characteristic ‘NOBILITY’ (US PP20,459)
Color mature fruit RHS 45A RHS 42A
Medium red Medium red
Color achenes RHS 159A RHS 159A
Orange- Orange-
white group white group
Fruit length (mm) 23.28 22.91
Fruit width (mm) 20.60 20.12
Length/width ratio 1.13 1.14
Longer than Longer than
broad broad
Seed weight (mg) 1.79 1.75
Drupelets per berry 79 93
Weight of single drupe (g/drupe) 0.066 0.043
Drupe length (mm) 6.76 5.25
Drupe diameter (mm) 4.96 3.86
Relative size of drupes Large Medium
Fruit size Medium Medium
Fruit per node 12 15
Predominant shape Conical Conical
Receptacle length (mm) 22.66 19.15
Receptacle diameter (mm) 9.09 10.32
Receptacle color RHS 155B RHS 155B
White group White group
Evenness of color (fruit) Even Even
Glossiness High Medium
Adherence of receptacle Very weak Very weak
Firmness of flesh Firm Very firm
Firmness of skin Firm Very firm
Soluble solids (% brix) 11.0 10.5
Flavor Very good Good
TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
‘GRANDEUR’
Characteristic ‘NOBILITY’ (US PP20,459)
General:
Habit Upright Upright
Plant height (m) 1.38 1.44
Plant width (cm) 38 45
Time to initiate roots (days) 12-14 12-14
Canes per hill 10.6 6.9
Productivity Medium High
Self-fruitfulness Yes Yes
Type of bearing Fall bearing Everbearing
Primocane:
Color (true) RHS 145B RHS 145B
Yellow- Yellow-
green group green group
Length (cm) 138.1 143.6
Basal diameter (mm) 19.68 21.80
Diameter central 1/3 (mm) 14.04 12.55
Lateral length at central 1/3 (cm) 35.1 43.6
Number of fruiting laterals per cane 12.1 17.4
Total nodes per cane 34 31
Internode length at central 1/3 (mm) 41.07 48.84
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 59B RHS 59B
Red-purple Red-purple
group group
Anthocyanin intensity Weak Weak
Pubescence Absent Absent
Vegetative bud length (mm) 7.37 11.01
Vegetative bud diameter (mm) 5.20 6.11
Vegetative bud shape Widely ovate Widely ovate
Vegetative bud color RHS 187A RHS 187A
Greyed-red Greyed-red
group group
Strength of waxy coat (glaucosity) Weak Absent to
very weak
Time of flowering Early Medium
Time of fruiting Early Medium
Length of fruiting season Long Long
% of total yield 49% 50%
Flowering period Late May to Late June to
mid-November late November
Harvest period Late June to Late July to
early December late December
Primocane fruit weight (g) 4.2 3.8
Primocane yield (g/plant) 2,269 2,662
Young Shoots:
Number (per meter) 15-20 15-20
Medium Medium
Anthocyanin presence Present Present
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 179B RHS 179A
Red-purple Greyed-
group red group
Anthocyanin intensity Weak Medium
Thorns:
Thorn coloration (tip) RHS 200A RHS 180C
Brown group Greyed-
red group
Thorn coloration (base) RHS 145B RHS 145B
Yellow- Yellow-
green group green group
Thorn length at central 1/3 (mm) 3.04 0.76
Thorn base at central 1/3 (mm) 2.02 1.53
Thorn presence Present Present
Thorn density per cm at central 1/3 3.70 3.38
Medium Medium
Thorn texture Rigid Rigid
Attitude of the tip Horizontal Horizontal
Floricane:
Color (true) RHS 165B RHS 164A
Greyed- Greyed-
orange group orange group
Length (cm) 95.4 119.8
Width at central 1/3 (mm) 13.44 12.04
Total nodes per cane 19 18
Internode length at central 1/3 (mm) 43.00 49.13
Fruiting lateral attitude Erect Erect
Time bud burst Medium Medium
Time of flowering Medium Medium
Time of fruiting Medium Medium
Length of fruiting season Medium to long Medium to long
% of total yield 51% 50%
Flowering period Late April to Late April to
late June late June
Harvest period Late May to Late May to
late July late July
Floricane fruit weight (g) 4.1 3.7
Floricane yield (g/plant) 2,292 2,680
TABLE 5
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
‘GRANDEUR’
‘NOBILITY’ (US PP20,459)
Characteristic (3-Foliate) (3-Foliate)
General:
Color of upper surface RHS 137A RHS N137A
Green group Green group
Color of lower surface RHS 190B RHS 190B
Greyed- Greyed-
green group green group
Venation Pinnate Pinnate
Shape in cross section Flat to Flat to
slightly convex slightly convex
Arrangement Compound Compound
Relief between veins (rugosity) Medium Strong
Glossiness Weak Weak
Number of leaflets per leaf Mostly 3 Always 3
Total leaf length (cm) 23.1 22.5
Total leaf width (cm) 24.0 23.4
Terminal Leaflet:
Length (mm) 139.7 127.5
Width (mm) 105.2 91.6
Length/width ratio 1.3 1.4
Longer than Longer than
broad broad
Size Medium to Medium to
large large
Shape Cordate Cordate
Shape of base Cordate Cordate
Shape of tip Acuminate Acuminate
Margins Biserrate Biserrate
Lateral Leaflet:
Length (mm) 107.9 105.5
Width (mm) 67.9 65.1
Length/Width Ratio 1.6 1.6
Longer than Longer than
broad broad
Rachis length (mm) 35.8 36.2
Rachis diameter (mm) 2.45 1.92
Rachis anthocyanin coloration RHS 184C RHS 184A
of upper surface
Rachis anthocyanin intensity Weak Medium
Orientation Opposite Opposite
Arrangement Compound Compound
Shape Ovate Ovate
Overlapping Touching Touching
Shape of the base Rounded Oblique
rounded
Shape of the tip Acuminate Acuminate
Margins Biserrate Biserrate
Petiole:
Length (mm) 45.90 59.00
Width (mm) 3.58 3.99
Thorn presence Yes Yes
Thorn orientation Erect Erect
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 184C RHS 184C
of upper surface Greyed- Greyed-
purple group purple group
Anthocyanin intensity of Absent to Weak
upper surface very weak
Stipule length (mm) 9.31 10.23
Stipule orientation Erect Erect to
horizontal
TABLE 6
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
‘GRANDEUR’
Characteristic ‘NOBILITY’ (US PP20,459)
Petal color (upper surface) RHS 155C RHS 155C
White group White group
Petal color (lower surface) RHS 155C RHS 155C
White group White group
Flower diameter (mm) 24.92 22.55
Petal Length (mm) 7.07 6.42
Petal width (mm) 3.37 3.11
Petal length/width ratio 2.10 2.06
Much longer Much longer
than broad than broad
Petal shape in cross section Flat Flat
Petal shape (overall) Ovate Ovate
Petal shape (apex) Rounded Rounded
Petal shape (base) Attenuate Attenuate
Petal margin Entire Entire
Petal texture Glabrous Glabrous
Number of petals per flower 5.5 5.2
Number of sepals per flower 5.5 5.2
Sepal length (mm) 10.01 11.20
Sepal width at base (mm) 5.22 6.49
Sepal shape Widely deltate Widely deltate
Sepal shape (apex) Acuminate Acuminate
Sepal coloration (upper surface) RHS 144A RHS 144B
Sepal coloration (lower surface) RHS 144B RHS 144C
Sepal margin Entire Entire
Sepal texture Slightly Slightly
pubescent pubescent
Number of stamens per flower 81 105
Filament length (mm) 4.62 4.45
Filament color RHS 155C RHS 155C
White group White group
Pollen quantity Medium Medium
Pollen color RHS 196D RHS 196D
Anther length (mm) 1.10 0.79
Anther diameter (mm) 0.50 0.49
Anther coloration (pre-dehiscence) RHS 155C RHS 155C
Anther coloration (post-dehiscence) RHS 165B RHS 165B
Stigma shape Lobed Lobed
Stigma length (mm) 0.11 0.10
Stigma diameter (mm) 0.42 0.40
Stigma coloration RHS 145D RHS 145D
Style length (mm) 2.55 2.03
Style diameter (mm) 0.41 0.39
Style coloration RHS 145D RHS 145D
Ovule length (mm) 1.55 1.51
Ovule diameter (mm) 1.46 1.40
Ovule coloration RHS 145B RHS 145B
Pedicle length (mm) 21.56 23.86
Pedicle diameter (mm) 1.33 1.47
Pedicle anthocyanin coloration RHS 182B RHS 178A
Pedicle anthocyanin intensity Absent to Medium
very weak
Relative number of pedicel thorns 23.5 16.2
Many Medium
Peduncle anthocyanin presence Present Present
Peduncle anthocyanin coloration RHS 182C RHS 184A
Greyed-purple Greyed-purple
group group
Peduncle anthocyanin intensity Absent to Medium
very weak
TABLE 7
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
‘GRANDEUR’
Characteristic ‘NOBILITY’ (US PP20,459)
Spotted wing drosophila Susceptible Susceptible
(Drosophila suzukii)
Two-spotted spider mite Susceptible Susceptible
(Tetranychus urticae)
Grey fruit mold Susceptible Susceptible
(Botrytis cinerea)
Powdery mildew Moderately Moderately
(Podosphaera aphanis var. aphanis) susceptible susceptible
Yellow rust Moderately Moderately
(Phragmidium rubi-idaei) susceptible susceptible
