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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169812
Title: NOTICE TO FRUIT GROWERS AND NURSERYMEN OF RELEASE OF TRAILING BLACKBERRY CULTIVAR NIGHTFALL

Author
item Finn, Chad
item YORGEY, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item STRIK, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item Martin, Robert
item PEACOCK, D - ENFIELD FARMS
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., Yorgey, B., Strik, B., Martin, R.R., Peacock, D., Peterson, M.E., Pace, C. 2004. Notice to fruit growers and nurserymen of release of trailing blackberry cultivar nightfall. USDA, Agricultural Resesarch Service, Cultivar Release.

Interpretive Summary: One of the primary objectives of the USDA-ARS 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 similar to or better than the current processing standard 'Marion', which is often marketed as "marionberry". 'Nightfall' is being released as a thornless blackberrry for processing. 'Nightfall' is outstanding because it compares favorably to 'Marion' for its plant, yield, and fruit characteristics in the field and it produces a good quality processed product. 'Nightfall' is recommended for trial in areas where trailing blackberries can be successfully grown.

Technical Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and the Washington Agricultural Research Center announce the release of a thornless (botanically 'spineless') blackberry for the processing market. 'Nightfall' was selected in Corvallis, Oregon in 1996 from a cross of 'Marion' and 'Waldo' and tested as ORUS 1486-2. 'Marion' is the industry standard for the processed fruit market, but it has thorny canes. 'Waldo' was the first named thornless trailing blackberry cultivar and has had some acceptance as a commercial cultivar; its fruit flavor is good, but it is very different from the standard 'Marion'. 'Nightfall' is outstanding because it compares favorably to 'Marion' for its plant, yield, and fruit characteristics in the field, and it produces a good quality processed product. 'Nightfall' is recommended for trial in areas where trailing blackberries can be successfully grown. As with 'Marion', NIGHTFALL is not suited to the wholesale fresh market as it is too soft.