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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169580
Title: NOTICE TO FRUIT GROWERS AND NURSERYMEN OF RELEASE OF TRAILING BLACKBERRY CULTIVAR BLACK DIAMOND

Author
item Finn, Chad
item HALL, H - NZ HORTREASEACH INC.
item YORGEY, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item STRIK, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item PEACOCK, D - ENFIELD FARMS
item Martin, Robert
item Peterson, Mary
item PACE, C - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cultivar Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Finn, C.E., Hall, H., Yorgey, B., Strik, B.S., Peacock, D., Martin, R.R., Peterson, M.E., Pace, C. 2004. Notice to fruit growers and nurserymen of release of trailing blackberry cultivar, black diamond. USDA, Agricultural Resesarch Service, Cultivar Release.

Interpretive Summary: One of the primary objectives of the USDA in Oregon is the development of high quality blackberry cultivars for the commercial industry. The main goal is to develop thornless processing cultivars that can be machine harvested. These cultivars must have fruit quality that is similar to or better than the current processing standard 'Marion', which is often marketed as "marionberry", 'Black Diamond' is introduced primarily as a thornless berry for the machine harvested processing market, and secondarily as a thornless cultivar for the fresh market, pick-your-own operations, and the home gardener. Large, firm, uniformly-shaped fruit and production similar to that of 'Marion' make 'Black Diamond' an outstanding cultivar. It is recommended for trial in areas where trailing blackberries can be successfully grown. 'Black Diamond' has been evaluated in blind panels as processed individually quick frozen (IQF) and pureed products. As an IQF fruit, 'Black Diamond' was ranked similar to 'Marion' and 'Waldo' in perceived color and appearance, and similar to 'Waldo'. but lower than 'Marion' for flavor, seediness, and 'overall quality'. As a puree, 'Black Diamond' was ranked similar to 'Waldo', 'Marion', and 'Silvan' for aroma, flavor, color, and 'overall quality'. The combination of input from these panels and other informal evaluations suggest that 'Black Diamond' will process well, but does not have the intense flavor of 'Marion'.

Technical Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Washington Agricultural Research Center announce the release of a thornless (botanically 'spineless') blackberry for the processing and fresh market. 'Black Diamond' was selected in Corvallis, Oregon in 1997 from a cross of 'Kotata' x NZ 8610L-163 (E90 x N-71). The cross was made in 1991 by H. Hall with New Zealand HortResearch Inc. in New Zealand and tested as NZ 9128R-1. This cultivar is the result of a tremendous cooperative effort among breeders who shared their germplasm. Large, firm, uniformly-shaped fruit and production similar to that of 'Marion' make 'Black Diamond an outstanding cultivar. 'Black Diamond' is recommended for trial in areas where trailing blackberries can be successfully grown. 'Black Diamond' has been evaluated in blind panels as processed individually quick frozen (IQF) and pureed products. As an IQF fruit, 'Black Diamond' was ranked similar to 'Marion' and 'Waldo' in perceived color and appearance and similar to 'Waldo,' but lower than 'Marion' for flavor, seediness, and 'overall quality'. As a puree, 'Black Diamond', was ranked similar to 'Waldo', 'Marion', and 'Silvan' for aroma, flavor, color, and 'overall quality'. The combination of input from these panels and other informal evaluations suggests that 'Black Diamond' will process well, but does not have the intense flavor of 'Marion'.