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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182007
Title: ‘NIGHTFALL’ THORNLESS TRAILING BLACKBERRY

Author
item Finn, Chad
item YORGEY, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item STRIK, B - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2005
Publication Date: 12/1/2005
Citation: Finn, C.E., Yorgey, B.M., Strik, B.C., Martin, R.R. 2005. 'Nightfall' thornless trailing blackberry. HortScience. 40:2182-2184.

Interpretive Summary: ‘Marion’ is currently the most important blackberry (Rubus L.) cultivar in the world and it is the predominant cultivar grown for the processed fruit market. While ‘Marion’ produces outstanding quality fruit for processing, the plants are thorny. When ‘Marion’ is machine harvested, thorns can end up in the product, which can lead to a poor product, and, more significant in an economic sense, lawsuits. As a result, a primary priority for the breeding program has been the development of cultivars that are thornless, machine harvestable, and retain the excellent processing characteristics of ‘Marion’. Three thornless blackberry cultivars with these qualities are being released simultaneously: ‘Nightfall’, ‘Black Diamond’, and ‘Black Pearl’. ‘Nightfall’ is a thornless trailing blackberry from the U.S. Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) breeding program in Corvallis, OR released in cooperation with the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station and the Washington State University Agricultural Research Center. ‘Nightfall’ has yields and fruit quality similar to ‘Marion’. The plants are thornless and adapted to machine harvesting.

Technical Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and the Washington Agricultural Research Center have released 'Nightfall', a thornless (botanically “spineless”) blackberry for the processing market. 'Nightfall' was selected in Corvallis, OR 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; however, while its fruit flavor is good, 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.