===== PAGE 1 =====
# Primocane Fruiting Blackberry Trial Results

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

===== PAGE 2 =====
## Introduction

Rubus

• The official State Fruit

“U-pick”

- Small commercial production

• In 2006 there were 150 acres of blackberries in KY

Mainly fresh market sales and jams and jellies

Interest increasing

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1732_649_3149_2388.jpg" alt="Image" width="42%" /></div>


===== PAGE 3 =====
## 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

===== PAGE 4 =====
## Blackberry Types & Cultivars

## Erect Thorny

– Cherokee

— Shawnee

– Chickasaw*

- Kiowa

## Erect Thornless

– Apache*

— Ouachita*

## Semi-erect Thornless

- Hull Thornless

– Triple Crown*

— Chester

## • Trailing

— Boysen (not hardy)

– Marion (not hardy)

## Primocane Fruiting, Thorny

— Prime-Jan*

– Prime-Jim*

===== PAGE 5 =====
## 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

===== PAGE 6 =====
## 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

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1924_473_3153_1363.jpg" alt="Image" width="37%" /></div>


<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1920_1381_3149_2395.jpg" alt="Image" width="37%" /></div>


===== PAGE 7 =====
## 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.

===== PAGE 8 =====
## 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)

===== PAGE 9 =====
## 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

===== PAGE 10 =====
## Weed Control

• Manual

-Hand

-Hoe

-Weed eater

• Mulching

—Straw

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1317_711_3148_2095.jpg" alt="Image" width="55%" /></div>


===== PAGE 11 =====
## Irrigation

T-tape

• Lack of water seriously reduces yields

• Require 1" water/wk during growing season

• Best to irrigate throughout entire season

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1769_695_3148_2004.jpg" alt="Image" width="41%" /></div>


7000

===== PAGE 12 =====
## The April Freeze Event and High Summer Temperatures in 2007

• No fruit production data collected from floricanes

— April freeze damaged floricanes

Summer temperatures

- Warm temps thought to reduce fruit set on primocanes

– 44 days over 85°F in August and September,

2007

===== PAGE 13 =====
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===== PAGE 15 =====
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June 8, 2007

===== PAGE 16 =====
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_146_126_3153_2394.jpg" alt="Image" width="91%" /></div>


August 18, 2007

===== PAGE 17 =====
## Prime Jim

• Yield: very low

Berry size: 1.9 g

Brix: 13.1

• Comments: Poor fruit set and size due to high temperatures?

Harvest:

– start 8/2, half 8/27, end 10/26 (frost)

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_692_1719_2623_2044.jpg" alt="Image" width="58%" /></div>


Prime Jim

===== PAGE 18 =====
## Prime-Jan

Yield: good

Berry size: 3.2 g

Brix: 10.3

Harvest:

• Comments: Better yields than expected; not influenced by the summer heat as much as Prime Jim?

– start 8/2, half 8/30, end 10/26

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_658_1617_2708_2047.jpg" alt="Image" width="62%" /></div>


Prime Jan

===== PAGE 19 =====
## APF-27

Yield: low

Berry size: 3.0 g

• Comments: Nice flavor.

Brix: 12.5

Harvest:

– Start 8/2, half 9/4, end 10/26

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_698_1785_2613_2112.jpg" alt="Image" width="58%" /></div>


APF-27

===== PAGE 20 =====
## APF-40

Yield: very good

Berry size: 3.9 g

Brix: 12.5

• Comments: best producer; largest fruit; best choice so far.

Harvest:

- start 8/6, half 8/27, end 10/26

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_633_1440_2644_1801.jpg" alt="Image" width="60%" /></div>


APF-40

===== PAGE 21 =====
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_256_151_3146_2397.jpg" alt="Image" width="87%" /></div>


===== PAGE 22 =====
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APF-40 on August 18, 2007

===== PAGE 23 =====
## APF-41

Yield: low

Berry size: 3.7 g

Brix: 14

• Comments: Late harvest; nice fruit form and size.

Harvest:

– start 8/20, half 9/11, end 10/26

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_714_1557_2602_1875.jpg" alt="Image" width="57%" /></div>


APF-41

===== PAGE 24 =====
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_561_151_2858_2373.jpg" alt="Image" width="69%" /></div>


APF-41 on August 23, 2007

===== PAGE 25 =====
## APF-42

Yield: low

Berry size: 2.2 g

Brix: 12.7

Harvest:

• Comments: Double fruits a big problem for harvest; already dropped from the trial.

– start 8/6, half 9/6, end 10/26

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_562_1565_2585_1966.jpg" alt="Image" width="61%" /></div>


APF-42

===== PAGE 26 =====
## APF-46

Yield: low

Berry size: 2.6 g

Brix: 13.7

Harvest:

• Comments: Small plants, may benefit from pinching at 0.5 meter.

– start 8/2, half 9/11, end 10/26

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_680_1581_2749_1955.jpg" alt="Image" width="62%" /></div>


APF-46

===== PAGE 27 =====
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_148_114_2400_3013.jpg" alt="Image" width="88%" /></div>


APF-46

===== PAGE 28 =====
## APF-77

Yield: low

Berry size: 3.1 g

Brix: 11.2

• Comments: Late harvest period; interesting flavor.

Harvest:

– start 8/2, half 9/24, end 10/26

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_668_1680_2714_2048.jpg" alt="Image" width="62%" /></div>


APF-77

===== PAGE 29 =====
<div style="text-align: center;">2007 Yield and Berry Weight Data</div>



<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Selection</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Yield (lb/acre)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Berry weight (g)</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-27</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1931 b</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.8 bc</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-40</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3180 a</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.9 a</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-41</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1738 b</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.7 a</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-42</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1974 b</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.2 de</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-46</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1677 b</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.6 cd</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-77</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2136 b</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.1 b</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Prime-Jan ®</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2235 ab</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.2 b</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Prime-Jim ®</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>367 c</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1.9 e</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>P-value</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>0.001</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>0.001</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Significance</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>***</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>***</td></tr></table>

===== PAGE 30 =====
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_355_268_532_450.jpg" alt="Image" width="5%" /></div>


<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_540_292_1500_469.jpg" alt="Image" width="29%" /></div>


## Prime Jim

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_368_755_1500_990.jpg" alt="Image" width="34%" /></div>


Prime Jan

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_390_1336_1464_1527.jpg" alt="Image" width="32%" /></div>


APF-27

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_379_1877_1467_2079.jpg" alt="Image" width="32%" /></div>


APF-40

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_2964_152_3151_359.jpg" alt="Image" width="5%" /></div>


<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1791_272_2863_462.jpg" alt="Image" width="32%" /></div>


APF-41

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1698_847_2491_1087.jpg" alt="Image" width="24%" /></div>


<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_2521_895_2882_1085.jpg" alt="Image" width="10%" /></div>


APF-42

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1779_1404_2849_1597.jpg" alt="Image" width="32%" /></div>


APF-46

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1742_1915_2902_2128.jpg" alt="Image" width="35%" /></div>


APF-77

===== PAGE 31 =====
## Harvest 2007


<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td rowspan="2">Selection</td><td colspan="3">Mid point</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>First harvest</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>(half berry wt)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Last harvest</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-27</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/02</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>9/04</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-40</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/06</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/27</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-41</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/20</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>9/11</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-42</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/06</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>9/06</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-46</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/02</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>9/11</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-77</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/02</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>9/24</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Prime-Jan ®</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/02</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/30</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Prime-Jim ®</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/02</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8/27</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10/26</td></tr></table>

(Frost)

===== PAGE 32 =====
## Early Tasting Data From UK and KSU Events N

N = 21


<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Selection</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>flavor</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>sweetness</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>bitterness</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>tartness</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Prime Jan</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.0 ab</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.6 cd</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.2 ab</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.4</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Prime Jim</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.7 b</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.4 d</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.4 a</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.3</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-27</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.3 ab</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.0 abcd</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.6 abc</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.6</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-40</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.6 a</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.2 ab</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.2 c</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.6</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-41</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.9 b</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.6 cd</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.7 abc</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.1</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-42</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.7 a</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.5 a</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.4 bc</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.7</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-46</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.2 ab</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.8 bcd</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.1 ab</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.6</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>APF-77</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.6 a</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.1 abc</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>2.5 bc</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>3.0</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>sig</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>*</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>**</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>*</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>NS</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'></td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>5=intense</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>5=intense</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>5=intense</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>5=intense</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'></td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1=mild</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1=mild</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1=mild</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1=mild</td></tr></table>

===== PAGE 33 =====
## 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 advanced selections have improved characteristics over Prime Jim and Prime Jan.

• APF-45 will also be established at KSU in 2008 and be evaluated.

• APF selections are  not currently available to growers and patent decisions have yet to be made.

===== PAGE 34 =====
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_529_161_2773_2388.jpg" alt="Image" width="68%" /></div>


## Questions?