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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #263611
Title: 'Onyx' trailing blackberry

Author
item Finn, Chad
item STRIK, BERNADINE - Oregon State University
item YORGEY, BRIAN - Oregon State University
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2011
Publication Date: 4/1/2011
Citation: Finn, C.E., Strik, B.C., Yorgey, B.M., Martin, R.R. 2011. 'Onyx' trailing blackberry. HortScience. 46:657-659.

Interpretive Summary: 'Onyx' is a new trailing blackberry (Rubus subg. Rubus Watson) cultivar from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) breeding program in Corvallis, OR, released in cooperation with the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. 'Onyx' is a vigorous, somewhat erect, thorny, trailing blackberry that produces moderate yields of uniform, firm and sweet high-quality fruit with excellent flavor that are suited for the local and wholesale fresh market. 'Onyx' is being released primarily due to its outstanding fresh fruit quality in the late season.

Technical Abstract: 'Onyx' is a new trailing blackberry (Rubus subg. Rubus Watson) cultivar from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) breeding program in Corvallis, OR, released in cooperation with the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. 'Onyx', tested as ORUS 1523-4, was selected in Corvallis, OR in 1997 from a cross made in 1995 of OSC 1466 and ORUS 1117-11. OSC 1466 was selected in 1966 and has always been noted for its productivity and outstanding fruit quality, especially flavor, but its fruit are small. ORUS 1117-11 is a thornless selection with high yields of late ripening fruit with excellent quality. 'Onyx' is a vigorous, somewhat erect, thorny, trailing blackberry that produces moderate yields of uniform, firm and sweet high-quality fruit with excellent flavor that are suited for the local and wholesale fresh market. 'Onyx' has performed well in limited commercial trial and has shipped well in the wholesale fresh market supply chain. 'Onyx' is being released primarily due to its outstanding fresh fruit quality in the late season. An application for a U.S. plant patent has been submitted.