ARS | Publication request: `NIGHTFALL¿ THORNLESS TRAILING BLACKBERRY

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 18, 2005
Publication Date: December 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.