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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
• Canes last for two seasons, then die
• Most blackberries are floricane fruiting
• Some blackberries are primocane fruiting

Floricane Fruiting Blackberries

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.

This trial was managed with organic practices following the National Organic Program Standards.

• Completely randomized design (2 replicate
• This trial was managed with organic practices
• –Weed control: 6-8 inch layer of straw and hand
• –Irrigated weekly with t-tape laid in the rows.

– 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, selections flowered in June and ripe fruit were harvested from plants each Monday and Thursday until August.

Chickasaw

A-1937T

A-2215T

Yield and Berry Weight in 2008

Arkansas Trials Established in 2004

(Clark and Moore, 2008)

Fig. 1. Pedigree of ‘Natchez’ blackberry.

Summary

• Natchez has been released for commercial production and could potentially be a popular new addition for blackberry production in Kentucky.

Primocane Fruiting Blackberries

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
• Recommended for home gardeners and for
• Fruit size and quality are affected by the hot
• –temperatures above 85oF can greatly reduce fruit
• 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®
• Established June 2006 at KSU
• Floricane fruiting selections:
• –Triple Crown (thornless-trailing)
• Primocane fruiting selections:
• –(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

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.

Selected Floricane Fruit

Chickasaw

APF-77

APF-41

2007 and 2008 Yield Data

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY

2007 and 2008 Fruit Weights

Harvest Dates 2007 and 2008

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.
• Primocane fruiting blackberries could be a
• Mowing instead of pruning, no trellis, and
• APF-41 is in the final stages of release and
• APF-45 was established at KSU in 2008 and
• APF-45 was established at KSU in 2008 and will be evaluated.