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# New Arkansas Blackberry Production Characteristics
Kirk W. Pomper*, Jeremiah D. Lowe*, and Sheri B. Crabtree
Department of Plant and Soil Science, Kentucky State University
John R. Clark
Department of Horticulture, University of Arkansas
John G. Strang
Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky
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## Blackberry Terminology
• Canes: Stems of bramble plants
• Canes last for two seasons, then die
• Primocane: A bramble cane going through its first year of growth
• Floricane: A bramble cane going through its second year of growth
Most blackberries are floricane fruiting
• Some blackberries are primocane fruiting
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## Floricane Fruiting Blackberries
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## Arkansas Blackberry Breeding Program
• The University of Arkansas Blackberry
Breeding Program has developed many excellent floricane blackberry cultivars including:
– Apache, Arapaho, Cherokee, Comanche, Cheyenne, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Kiowa, Navaho, Ouachita, and Shawnee
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## Objective
• To compare production characteristics from a number of advanced floricane fruiting selections, developed by the University of Arkansas Blackberry Breeding Program under Kentucky growing conditions.
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## Materials and Methods
• In June 2006, a blackberry variety trial was established at Kentucky State University.
• Trial includes:
— Standards:
• Chickasaw (thorny erect)
• Triple Crown (semi-erect, thornless)
– University of Arkansas (Thornless, erect):
A-1937T
A-2215T
A-2241T
A-2315T
• A-2241T (Natchez)
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## Materials and Methods
Completely randomized design (2 replicate plots containing 5 plants of each selection in a 10 foot plot).
• Rows were spaced 14 feet apart.
This trial was managed with organic practices following the National Organic Program Standards.
- Weed control: 6-8 inch layer of straw and hand weeding.
– Irrigated weekly with t-tape laid in the rows.
– Plastic wire t-post trellis
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511NY14
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## Flowering
• Flower buds of the floricanes of all blackberry selections were destroyed by the Easter freeze event of 2007.
• In 2008, selections flowered in June and ripe fruit were harvested from plants each Monday and Thursday until August.
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## Chickasaw
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## A-1937T
A-2215T
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## A-2315T
A-2241T
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## Chickasaw
A-2241T
Natchez
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## Yield and Berry Weight in 2008
| Selection | Yield (lb/acre) | Berry weight (g) | Brix | 2008 Harvest Period |
| A-1937T | 10,430 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 6/30 – 8/3 |
| A-2215T | 8,359 | 3.8 | 9.2 | 7/3 – 8/11 |
| A-2315T | 6,526 | 5.5 | 7.8 | 7/3 – 8/3 |
| Natchez | 8,924 | 6.8 | 8.7 | 6/26 – 8/3 |
| Chickasaw | 8,259 | 5.4 | 9.2 | 6/30 – 8/3 |
| Triple Crown | 6,782 | 4.6 | 11.3 | 7/17 – 8/14 |
| Significance | ns | ** | *** | - |
| LSD (5%) | - | 1.2 | 0.7 | - |
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## Arkansas Trials Established in 2004
| Yield (lbs/Acre) | Wt/berry |
| Cultivar | 2005 | 2006 | Clarksville | 2005 | 2006 |
| Natchez | 11,400 | 7,763 | | 8.7 | 8.0 |
| Apache | 11,655 | 9,549 | | 8.6 | 8.2 |
| Quachita | 7,955 | 7,137 | | 6.3 | 6.2 |
| | | Hope | | |
| Natchez | 6,398 | 7,513 | | 6.7 | 4.4 |
| Apache | 3,818 | 8,887 | | 7.9 | 6.7 |
| Quachita | 2,820 | 19,347 | | 5.8 | 4.7 |
(Clark and Moore, 2008)
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Fig. 1. Pedigree of ‘Natchez’ blackberry.
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## Summary
• Natchez has been released for commercial production and could potentially be a popular new addition for blackberry production in Kentucky.
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## Primocane Fruiting Blackberries
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## Prime-Jim & Prime-Jan
• Released by the University of Arkansas
• Recommended for home gardeners and for very limited commercial trial
• Fruit have poor shipping characteristics
• Fruit size and quality are affected by the hot temperatures
- temperatures above 85circF can greatly reduce fruit set, size and quality on primocanes
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## Primocane Fruiting Blackberries
• Great for Farmers Markets in Kentucky (fruit from August until frost!)
• Floricane and Primocane fruiting
- Mowing instead of pruning
• Erect selections do not need a trellis
• Potential organic production
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## Objective
• To determine if advanced selections developed by the University of Arkansas Blackberry Breeding Program were superior to Prime-Jim® and Prime-Jan® in terms of yield and fruit quality under Kentucky growing conditions.
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## Blackberry Selections
• Established June 2006 at KSU
- Floricane fruiting selections:
- Apache (thornless erect)
- Chickasaw (thorny erect)
- Triple Crown (thornless-trailing)
Primocane fruiting selections:
– Prime-Jim®
– Prime-Jan®
— APF-27, APF-40, APF-41, APF-42, APF-46, and APF-77
— (all thorny erect, primocane-fruiting)
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## Trial Design
• Randomized complete block design
-4 blocks
– 20 plants of each cultivar or selection
• Spacing
– 2 feet between each plant
– Rows 70 feet long
– Rows 14 feet apart
• Managed using National Organic Program standards
Harvested on Monday and Thursday
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## Weed Control
• Manual
-Hand
-Hoe
-Weed eater
• Mulching
—Straw
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## Irrigation
T-tape
• Lack of water seriously reduces yields
• Require 1" water/wk during growing season
• Best to irrigate throughout entire season
7000
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## Flowering and Fruiting
2007
- No fruit production data collected from floricanes due to spring frost.
– Fruit harvested from primocanes.
2008
- Floricane and primocane crops harvested.
- Drought conditions negatively impacted primocane crop.
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June 8, 2007
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August 18, 2007
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October 5, 2008
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## Selected Floricane Fruit
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## Chickasaw
APF-77
APF-41
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## Primocane Fruit
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## Prime Jim
Prime Jan
APF-27
APF-40
APF-41
APF-42
APF-46
APF-77
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## 2007 and 2008 Yield Data
| Yield (lb/ac) |
| 2007 | 2008 | 2008 |
| Selection | Primocane | Floricane | Primocane |
| APF-27 | 1494 | 1097 | 3005 |
| APF-40 | 2598 | 1999 | 1947 |
| APF-41 | 1415 | 4415 | 873 |
| APF-46 | 1021 | 672 | 1179 |
| APF-77 | 1104 | 3717 | 2229 |
| Prime Jan | 1718 | 856 | 2003 |
| Prime Jim | 295 | 1856 | 691 |
| Significance | ** | ** | ** |
| LSD | 604 | 1007 | 1048 |
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## 2007 and 2008 Fruit Weights
| Average Fruit Weight (g) |
| 2007 | 2008 | 2008 |
| Selection | Primocane | Floricane | Primocane |
| APF-27 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
| APF-40 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.9 |
| APF-41 | 3.9 | 6.2 | 4.4 |
| APF-46 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| APF-77 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Prime Jan | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| Prime Jim | 2.0 | 3.6 | 2.7 |
| Significance | ** | ** | ** |
| LSD | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
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## Harvest Dates 2007 and 2008
| Harvest Dates (start and end) |
| 2007 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008 |
| Selection | Floricane | Primocane | Floricane | Primocane |
| APF-27 | - | 8/2 - 10/26 | 6/18 - 7/21 | 8/3 - 10/20 |
| APF-40 | - | 8/6 - 10/26 | 6/18 - 8/1 | 8/3 - 10/20 |
| APF-41 | - | 8/20 - 10/26 | 6/18 - 8/11 | 8/25 - 10/20 |
| APF-46 | - | 8/2 - 10/26 | 6/18 - 7/24 | 8/11 - 10/20 |
| APF-77 | - | 8/2 - 10/26 | 6/18 - 7/28 | 8/3 - 10/20 |
| Prime Jan | - | 8/2 - 10/26 | 6/18 - 7/24 | 8/11 - 10/20 |
| Prime Jim | - | 8/2 - 10/26 | 6/18 - 7/21 | 8/14 - 10/20 |
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## Conclusions
- Primocane fruiting blackberries could be a niche-market crop for Kentucky growers (farmers markets) from Mid-summer until frost.
- Mowing instead of pruning, no trellis, and potential organic production are also attractive to growers.
• APF-41 is in the final stages of release and should be available to the public soon.
• APF-45 was established at KSU in 2008 and will be evaluated.
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## Questions?
