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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169791
Title: NOTICE TO FRUIT GROWERS AND NURSERYMEN OF RELEASE OF TRAILING BLACKBERRY CULTIVAR METOLIUS

Author
item Finn, Chad
item STRIK, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item YORGEY, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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., Strik, B., Yorgey, B., Martin, R.R., Peterson, M.E., Pace, C. 2004. Notice to fruit growers and nurserymen of release of trailing blackberry cultivar metolius. 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, but there is a strong interest in high quality cultivars for the fresh market that can be hand picked. 'Metolius'is introduced as a berry for the fresh market. This blackberry ripens very early and produces high yields of large, glossy fruit with superb flavor, making it an excellent berry for fresh market sales.

Technical Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Washington Agricultural Research Center announce the release of a new, very early-ripening, trailing blackberry, 'Metolius'. 'Metolius' was selected in 1997 from a cross between 'Douglass' and 'Kotata' and tested as ORUS 1452-1. 'Douglass' an 8x trailing blackberry, was developed and patented by Mr. Barney Douglass (Hillsboro, OR), and has wild Rubus ursinus and selections from the USDA-OSU cooperative program in its pedigree. 'Kotata', a 7x trailing blackberry, has as grandparents two selections from R. ursinus ('Jenner-1', 'Pacific'), a raspberry-blackberry hybrid ('Boysen'), and a blackberry ('Eldorado') developed in eastern North America. 'Metolius's' release is primarily due to its superior performance as a very early-ripening, fresh market berry. 'Metolius' is named after the cold, spring-fed, scenic river in the Cascade Mountains.