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Parentage
Karaka Black is a hybrid berry cultivar, which was produced by
inter-crossing two Aurora x Comanche hybrids in the New Zealand
hybrid-berry breeding programme. Aurora [OSC 616 (Zielinski x Logan) x
OSC 73 (Logan x Austin Mayes)] is a hybrid berry, an 8x Rubus selection
from multi species background, from the Oregon breeding programme, and
Comanche is a blackberry cultivar from the Arkansas breeding programme
derived from the cross Darrow x Brazos.
Fruit Quality & Flavour
The fruit is well displayed and is very easy to pick. The dark black
fruit has a long cylindrical-conical shape, is very firm and very shiny.
The flavour is likened to a mild blackberry, and may be somewhat acidic
when picked slightly under-ripe or grown in a cool climate. Fruit size
is large, with an average weight of 10-11g, and is larger than Kotata
and Waldo. Shelf life of fruit is outstanding and it is at least as good
as Tulameen red raspberry, the standard for fresh market raspberry
production in the UK and Europe.
Yield
Karaka Black yield is high, approximately 15t/ha, compared to the
cultivars Silvan at 13t/ha and Waldo at 10t/ha. In trials in New
Zealand, Karaka Black has achieved yields of over 25t/ha.
Season
Karaka Black fruiting season is very long, producing high quality
fruit for six to eight weeks. In New Zealand, Karaka Black starts to
ripen at the same time as Silvan.
Plant Characteristics
Canes have moderate vigour and are less spiny than Boysenberry or
Silvan blackberry. Moderate plant vigour makes it appropriate to plant
this cultivar at 1m spacing to ensure a high yield. The plant habit is
trailing.
Disease Resistance
The plant has moderate disease resistance to downy mildew (Peronospora
sparsa), the cause of ‘dry berry’ disease and to fruit Botrytis due to
fruit firmness.
Use of the Variety
Karaka Black is suitable for fresh market, processing and pick your
own. In a cool climate this cultivar will be well suited to tunnel
production of fruit for fresh market. |
