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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

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

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

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.

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)

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.
• his 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

Flowering

• Flower buds of the floricanes of all blackberry selections were destroyed by the Easter freeze event of 2007.
• In 2008 and 2009, selections flowered in June and ripe fruit were harvested from plants each Monday and Thursday until August.

Chickasaw

A-2215T

A-2315T

A-2241T

Yield in 2008 and 2009

Selection 2008 2009

A-1937T 10430 1220

A-2215T 8359 1515

A-2315T 6526 1343

'Natchez' 8924 3158

'Chickasaw' 8259 3750

'Triple Crown' 6782 5541

Yield Yield

(lb/acre)1 (lb/acre)

Significance ns ns

Berry Weight in 2008 and 2009

Harvest Dates in 2008 and 2009

Selection 2008 2009

A-1937T 6/30 – 8/3 7/2 – 7/30

A-2215T 7/3 – 8/11 6/25 – 8/3

A-2315T 7/3 – 8/3 7/2 – 8/3

‘Natchez’ 6/26 – 8/3 6/25 – 8/3

‘Chickasaw’ 6/30 – 8/3 6/25 – 8/6

‘Triple Crown’ 7/17 – 8/14 7/2 – 8/13

Harvest Harvest

dates dates

Significance - -

Summary

• Drought in 2008 reduced the number of floricanes and yields in all selections in 2009.
• Anthracnose damaged some canes and reduced yields.
• Natchez has been released for commercial production and could potentially be a popular new addition for blackberry production in Kentucky.

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

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

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.

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)

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

Weed Control

• Manual — Hand — Hoe — Weed eater
• Mulching – Straw

Irrigation

• T-tape
• Lack of water seriously reduces yields
• Require 1" water/wk during growing season
• Best to irrigate throughout entire season

Blackberry Pests

Blackberry Pests

Blackberry Diseases

2007-2009 Yield Data

Selection Yield (lb/ac) 2009 2009

APF-27 1494 bc 1097 bcd 3005 a - 3682 ab

APF-40 2598 a 1999 b 1947 bc - 3669 ab

APF-41 1415 bc 4415 a 873 d 580 a 3465 ab

APF-46 1021 c 672 d 1179 cd - -

APF-77 1104 c 3717 a 2229 ab - 4189 a

Prime Jan 1718 b 856 cd 2003 abc 31 b 2517 bc

Prime Jim 295 d 1856 bc 691 d 5 b 1390 c

2007 2008 2008 2009 2009

Primocane Floricane Primocane Floricane Primocane

2007-2009 Fruit Weights

Chickasaw

APF-77

APF-41

Harvest Dates 2007-2009

Selection 2007 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009

APF-27 - 8/2 - 10/26 6/18 - 7/21 8/3 - 10/20 - 7/23 - 10/13

APF-40 - 8/6 - 10/26 6/18 - 8/1 8/3 - 10/20 - 7/23 - 10/13

Floricane Primocane Floricane Primocane Floricane Primocane

Harvest Dates (start and end)

APF-41 - 8/20 - 10/26 6/18 - 8/11 8/25 - 10/20 7/2 - 8/10 8/13 - 10/13

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 - 7/23 - 10/13

Prime Jan - 8/2 - 10/26 6/18 - 7/24 8/11 - 10/20 7/2 - 8/6 8/10 - 10/13

Prime Jim - 8/2 - 10/26 6/18 - 7/21 8/14 - 10/20 7/2 - 8/3 8/6 - 10/13

Conclusions

• Small 2009 floricane crop due to:
• 2008 drought reduced the number of canes for floricane production in 2009
• ––2) winter injury to canes (-2.7°F on 1/26/09)
• anthracnose canker damaged some canes
• 2009 Primocane crops were high for all selections

Conclusions (continued)

• 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-45 has been released.
• APF-40, 41, and 77 are under consideration for release by the University of Arkansas.