Breeders Experiences with Rubus Species

Chad Finn, USDA-ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR 97330 USA
Harry Swartz, University of Maryland, Dept. of NRSL, College Park, MD 20742 USA
Patrick P. Moore Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA
James R. Ballington N.C. State University, Raleigh, NC
Chaim Kempler, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada PARC, Agassiz , BC V0M 1A0 Canada

Email contact: Chad Finn - finnc@bcc.orst.edu Fax: +1 541-750-8760

Adapted for the web by Joseph Postman, USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, OR 97330
Last update 6/23/2001

While there are numerous papers that document the use of Rubus species in breeding, these publications tend to focus on successes and concerted efforts to work with a species or group of species and, reasonably, cite few failures or small efforts. Since, there has been a renewed effort to evaluate Rubus species in North America over the past two decades, we felt it would be useful to try to summarize and characterize these efforts.

Initially five North American programs were surveyed to determine the extent of the germplasm research in their program. Each breeder characterized their work with 58 Rubus species in the following areas: species and its origin; whether populations of a species were grown; positive and negative characteristics of the species; whether selections were made in the populations; whether crosses were attempted with the species and if yes: what did they attempt to cross it with and were they successful; were they successful in growing progenies; were the progenies fertile and what characters of interest did they see in these progenies; have they carried this any further; and finally how they would rate the value of each species for (Table 1). These breeders notes are inexact but very useful descriptions of our experiences.

Environmental conditions for the location of these programs:

Subgenus

Rubus species

Program

Ploidy

Origin

No. populations grown

Characters of interest in this material

Negative characters seen in populations

Selections made?

Crosses attempted

Success w/crosses

If progenies grown, their fertility

Characters of interest in these hybrid progenies

Have carried this further? How?

How would you rate the value of this species? Why?

 

Anoplobatus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anoplobatus

R. deliciosus Torr

MD

2 & 4c

Colorado

2

"tree" growth habit, drought adapted, cold hardy

flat, dry fruit

N

RRY & PRY

Yes, sparingly w/RRY & PRY

in pots, v. limited 1-2 seeds/frt.

terminal branch has single flowers, woody perennial?

not yet

Unknown

Anoplobatus

R. parviflorus Nutt.

OR

2

NW US

1

large, well formed, raspberry like fruit

bland, unproductive

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

progenies did not survive to field

-

-

Fair. Doesn't offer much that we cannot get elsewhere

Anoplobatus

R. parviflorus Nutt.

WA

2

NW US

N

genetic diversity

-

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

mostly sterile, 1-2 drupelets/fruit at most

genetic diversity

will plant OP seedlings of selected hybrids

Long time to reach cultivar because of low fertility.

 

Chamaemorus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chamaemorus

R. chamaemorus L.

MD

8

Norway, Alaska

5

flavor, growth habit, thornlessness

dioecious, ploidy level, difficult to grow

N

E. & W. BLK; 4x RRY

Limited success w/E & W BLK; V. limited success w/4x RRY

no fertility in pot grown plants

growth habit slightly modified, fruit flavor-citrusy

1 BC

Unknown, just happy to backcross to ursini types

 

Cylacticus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cylacticus

R. arcticus L.

MD

4c

Sweden

2

growth characteristics, flavor, thornlessness

fruit size

N

RRY, PRY & BRY

Yes, easy w/RRY&PRY; No success w/BLK

full fertility in pot grown plants

upright w/red bland w/purple exc. Flav

3 BC's

High for flavor

Cylacticus

R. arcticus nothosubsp. stellarcticus 'Linda'

OR

2

Sweden

N

-

-

N

R. ursinus (8-12x)

Yes, difficult w/R. ursinus

not known yet

-

-

 

 

Dalibardastrum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dalibardastrum

R. tsangorum

OR

4

Guizhou, China

1

-

-

Y

4x & 8x BLK

No, w/4x & 8x BLK

-

-

-

Not sure would like to work w/more

 

Idaeobatus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Idaeobatus

R. cockburnianus Hemsl.

WA

2

China

N

genetic diversity

-

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

will fruit in 2001

genetic diversity

-

-

Idaeobatus

R. coreanus Miq.

MD

2

NCGR

2

aroma, early, branching habit

cold hardiness? soft

N

RRY

Yes, rel. easy w/RRY

almost full

excellent resist to rust & leaf fungi; fruit soft but flavorful

3 BC's

High

Idaeobatus

R. coreanus Miq.

OR

2

Guizhou, China

4

extremely early fruiting

low fruit no/lateral, abscission zone above calyx, extremely early flowering

Y

RRY & R. ursinus (8-12x)

Yes, difficult w/RRY; good success w/R. ursinus

not known yet

 

-

 

Idaeobatus

R. coreanus Miq.

MD

2

NCGR

2

fruit rot resist., vigor, black color

flavor, thorniness

N

RRY & BRY

V. limited success w/RRY; No success w/BRY

<50%

vigor in F1

not yet

Unknown

Idaeobatus

R. coreanus Miq.

OR

2

Toyama, Jpn; Guizhou, China

4

vigorous, low foliar disease, extremely productive, range of fruit colors from apricot to black; fruit size=BRY cultivars

nasty recurved thorns; flowers oriented skyward which can lead to poor pollination

Y

RRY

Yes, easy w/RRY&PRY; No success w/BLK

completely fertile

vigorous, productive, pink colored, drupelet set very sensitive to environmental conditions at flowering

yes

Excellent. Productivity, ease of use,

Idaeobatus

R. crataegifolius Bunge

OR

2

Jilin, China

3

productive, exc. set

small stature, odd flavor

Y

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

not known yet

-

-

 

Idaeobatus

R. crataegifolius Bunge

WA

2

cv Jokgal

N

glossy fruit, reported fruit rot resist.

-

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

mostly sterile, 2 drupelets/fruit

genetic diversity

BC1 to RRY & OP seedlings of F1

Long time to reach cultivar because of low fertility.

Idaeobatus

R. ellipticus Sm

MD

2

NCGR

1

vigor

thorny, no cold hardiness

N

RRY

None, w/RRY

-

-

-

Unknown

Idaeobatus

R. eustephanos Focke ex Diels

OR

2

Guizhou, China

1

v. high no. drupelets/fruit; vigorous

odd flavor, no torus

Y

RRY, R. ursinus (8-12x)

V. limited success w/RRY & R. ursinus (8-12x)

none have survived to field

-

-

Fair potential. Since we have good hybrids w/R. sumatranus which is similar in many ways we will drop this species

Idaeobatus

R. flosculosus Focke

MD

2

England, NCGR

2

vigor, fruit/truss

fruit size, flavor-kids paste at best

N

RRY

Yes, easy w/RRY

almost full

good cold hardiness, retains bad flavor for 2 gen BC; vigorous, productive

4 BC's

V. high vigor continues through BC. Strange flavor never becomes an asset when diluted

Idaeobatus

R. flosculosus Focke

WA

2

Yinpo, China

N

genetic diversity

-

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

will fruit in 2001

genetic diversity

-

-

Idaeobatus

R. hirsutus Thunb.

MD

2 & 4c

NCGR

1

large fruit

soft, no cold hardiness

N

R. sumatranus

Yes, w/R. sumatranus

surprisingly good > 50%

thin walled frt. disappears, extreme vigor, cold sensitivity disappears in 2nd BC

3 BC's

Moderate

Idaeobatus

R. hirsutus Thunb.

NC

2

temperate-subtropical SE China

2

heat & high humidity tolerance; reas. resist. to variable winter temperatures; attractive bright red fruit

peculiar aftertaste; very soft fruit; weedy

Y

RRY

Yes but slight w/RRY

completely sterile

none really, F1's very susc. to spider mites

-

Some potential, especially following doubling chromosome numbers of hybrids

Idaeobatus

R. idaeus L.

BC

2

N. Bohemia, Czechoslovakia

25

resist. to root rot, high vigor

small fruit

Y, 4

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

low fertility

yes, vigor

yes

High, easy & fast progress

Idaeobatus

R. idaeus subsp. strigosus

BC

2

N. America, several locations

50

resist. to root rot, resist. to aphid,

low vigor

Y

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

in F1, range of low to mid fertility.

yes, resistant to root rot

yes

High, easy & fast progress

Idaeobatus

R. idaeus subsp. strigosus

MD

2

E. N. America

10

Phytophthora resist., early fall bearing

small fruit, soft

Y

RRY

Yes, easy w/RRY

full

Phytophthora resist. some early fall bearing

2 BC's

Moderate

Idaeobatus

R. innominatus S. Moore

MD

2

NCGR

3

vigor, late ripening, heat tolerance

bland

N

RRY & PRY

Yes, hard but possible w/RRY & PRY; No success w/BRY or BLK

almost full

vigorous, productive, season stretches in later generations, flavor improves

3 BC's

Extremely high

Idaeobatus

R. innominatus S. Moore

NC

2

SE & SW China

2

erect plant habit; heat & humidity tolerance; resist. to variable winter temperatures; high productivity

unpleasant aftertaste (some forms); very dark fruit color (some forms); very large spines; very late maturing fruit

Y

RRY

Yes

partially to almost fully fertile

no unpleasant aftertaste; progenies segregate for resist. to variable winter temp.; F1s generally show tolerance to heat & humidity and have upright habit

F1s BCed to unrelated RRY cultivars

Valuable for incorporating genes for adaptation to warm humid regions into RRY

Idaeobatus

R. innominatus S. Moore

OR

2

Jiangxi, China

3

extremely productive, high fruit numbers/lateral; exc. set, diversity of colors & flavors, large fruit

none

Y

RRY

Yes, easy w/RRY

full

vigorous, productive, range of fruit colors, range of fruiting habits, good fruit size

-

Outstanding. Very productive, Lots of variability for interesting traits

Idaeobatus

R. innominatus S. Moore

WA

2

Taiwan

N

late fruit production

fruit color, spines

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

fertile, 25-30 drupelets/fruit, 60 fruit/lateral

genetic diversity, very late, very high numbers of fruit/lateral

BC1 to RRY & OP seedlings of F1

Good potential for very late floricane fruit production.

Idaeobatus

R. lasiostylus Focke

MD

2 & 4c

NCGR

3

extreme vigor, high no. drupelets, fruit hair, clean foliage

very thorny; tangerine off flavor

N

RRY

Yes, easy w/RRY; No success w/BLK

full

resistant or tolerant to leafhoppers, leaf & cane fungi, flavor improves rapidly; hairiness is lost by 3rd BC, soft, large fruit w/good flavor

4 BC's

V. high

Idaeobatus

R. lasiostylus Focke

WA

2

Juihuping, China

N

genetic diversity

-

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

fertile, 25 drupelets/fruit

genetic diversity

will plant OP seedlings of selected hybrids

Unknown, has unusual fleshy characteristics to fruit.

Idaeobatus

R. leucodermis

MD

2

NCGR

2

heterosis, large fruit

v. disease susceptible

N

BRY

Yes, easy w/BRY

full

too susc to heat; wimps out quickly in MD

-

None

Idaeobatus

R. leucodermis Douglas ex Torr. & A. Gray

OR

2

NW US

30

productive, exc. fruit size, Never been reported to have RBDV.

soft, light colored, bland fruit, disease susceptible i.e. Verticillium

Y

BRY, R. ursinus (8-12x)

Yes, easy w/BRY; difficult w/R. ursinus

full

vigorous, productive fertile,

not yet

If RBDV resistant then extremely valuable otherwise doesn't offer much.

Idaeobatus

R. niveus Thunb.

NC

2

S. Fla. Via India & SW China

~5

heat & humidity tolerance; cane & leaf disease resist.; erect plant habit; exc. fruit firmness; good flavor (SW China material)

no frost tolerance in material from south Florida; poor quality in material from south Florida; large spines & v. spiny

Y

PRY, RRY

Yes

low fertility

erect plant habit; reas. good resist. to variable winter temperatures; firm fruit; heat & humidity tolerance

successfully BCed to RRY

Valuable for incorporating heat & humidity tolerance, erect plant habit & fruit firmness

Idaeobatus

R. niveus Thunb.

OR

2

Guizhou, China; Andean S. America

4

extremely firm, dark, tasty fruit; upright habit, large no. of fruit/laterals; disease tolerant/resist., some primocane fruit

med-small, pubescent fruit, thorny

Y

BRY & RRY; R. ursinus

Yes, easy w/BRY; Unsuccessful w/BLK & RRY

not known yet

-

-

Outstanding if can get fruit firmness into cultivated types

Idaeobatus

R. niveus Thunb.

MD

2

NCGR, PIS

2

extreme vigor, heat tolerance

no cold hardiness

N

BRY & PRY

Yes, very limited w/BRY &PRY

<10%

F1 has extreme vigor & flower no.'s. partly cold hardy

just started

Possible heat tolerance

Idaeobatus

R. niveus (syn. R. albescens) 'Mysore' or R. hawaiensis A. Gray

BC

2

Hawaii

3

vigor; black fruit, low chilling, fruit rot resist.

not winter hardy, no flavor

N

RRY

No, it flower very late in the summer

-

-

-

Has value for fruit rot resist.

Idaeobatus

R. niveus Thunb.

WA

2

Guizhou, China

N

erect growth

very dark fruit

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

fertile, 20 drupelets/fruit, 35-40 fruit/lateral

genetic diversity, erect growth, quite a few fruit/lateral

will plant OP seedlings of selected hybrids

Growth habit & possible productivity, may contribute to cultivar eventually

Idaeobatus

R. occidentalis L.

MD

2

E. US

10

heterosis

small fruit

N

RRY & BRY

Yes, easy w/red & BRY; No success w/BLK

full

no value

1 BC

Little

Idaeobatus

R. occidentalis L.

NC

2

NE coastal plain NC

1

heat & high humidity tolerance; resist. to variable winter temperatures; cane disease resist.

very small fruit size; susceptibility to late rust on leaves

Y

RRY, BRY

red & black raspberries

fertile

resist. to variable winter temperatures, & heat & high humidity tolerance; potential cultivars among F2 segregates from crosses to BRY cultivars.

F2 progenies in BRY intercrosses; F1s w/RRY BCed to unrelated RRY cvs

Very valuable source of genes for adaptation to the N. Carolina climate

Idaeobatus

R. occidentalis L.

OR

2

Midwest US

2

Munger is the standard for the industry

poor long term survival due to disease

N

BRY, R. leucodermis

Yes, easy

fully fertile

vigor, crop load, fruit quality

not yet

Not sure. Think collection in eastern US is essential to get better handle on variability present.

Idaeobatus

R. occidentalis L.

WA

2

cv. Bristol

N

genetic diversity

disease resist.

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

fertile, 45 drupelets/fruit, 20-25 fruit/lateral

genetic diversity, Erect growth

will plant OP seedlings of selected hybrids

Growth habit & possible productivity, may contribute to cultivar eventually

Idaeobatus

R. parvifolius L.

MD

2 & 4c

NCGR, various

3

low chilling, vigor

terrible flavor, lacks cold hardiness

N

RRY & PRY

Yes, easy w/raspberry; No success w/BLK

fully fertile

vigor lost in later gen. Softer fruit, bad flavor, roundness is lost in 4th or 5th BC

5 BC's

Moderate

Idaeobatus

R. parvifolius L.

NC

2

SW China

2

heat & high humidity tolerance; some tolerance to variable winter temperatures

somewhat unpleasant aftertaste; trailing plant habit; late ripening (a disadvantage in the southeastern USA)

Y

RRY

Yes

partial to fully fertile

progenies segregate for resist. to variable winter temperatures & have heat & high humidity tol. of R. parvifolius; many F1s don't have unpleasant aftertaste of R. parvifolius

BC's to unrelated RRY cultivars made in winter 2001

Probably superior to R. occidentalis as a parent for heat & high humidity tolerance; also useful for tolerance to variable winter temperatures

Idaeobatus

R. parvifolius L.

OR

2

China

3

productive, vigorous, disease resistant, good fruit size, range of colors

odd, resinous flavor

Y

RRY

Yes, easy

fully fertile

vigorous, v. crumbly fruit, excellent flavor in fall but in summer resinous flavor

-

Good select hard against flavor

Idaeobatus

R. parvifolius L.

WA

2

Japan

N

genetic diversity, shiny fruit, some accessions have spider mite resist.

-

N

RRY

Yes, w/RRY

fertile, 35 drupelets/fruit, 35-40 fruit/lateral

genetic diversity, some have mite resist.

will plant OP seedlings of selected hybrids

Some potential because of good relative fertility, but trailing habit & spines negatives.

Idaeobatus

R. parvifolius (4x)

OR

4

China

1

v. large raspberry like fruit, bright red to yellowish orange, productive

winter sensitive, odd resinous flavor

Y

4x & 6X+ BLK, R. sachalinensis

Yes, easy w/BLK; Unsuccessful w/R. sachalinensis

not known yet

-

-

 

Idaeobatus

R. phoenicolasius Maxim.

WA

2

Japan

N

genetic diversity

-

N

RRY

Yes

fertile 20-25 drupelets/fruit, 35-40 fruit/lateral

genetic diversity, vigor, glossy fruit

will plant OP seedlings of selected hybrids

Some selections very vigorous, but currently unmanageable; high level of variability in growth habit within crosses

Idaeobatus

R. pileatus Focke backcross to RRY

MD

2

UK

1

flavor, Phytophthora resist.

 

N

RRY

Easy

fully fertile

good flavor & vigor

4 BC's

Moderate

Idaeobatus

R. pinfaensis H. Lev. & Vaniot

OR

2

Guizhou, China

1

large tasty, med-high drupelet count fruit

winter tender, poor productivity

Y

RRY

No, Very few flowers to work with

-

-

-

Poor. While fruit is appealing, poor winter hardiness.

Idaeobatus

R. pungens Cambess.

WA

2

China

N

genetic diversity

-

N

RRY

Yes, 1 seedling w/Meeker

somewhat fertile, 15 drupelets/fruit

genetic diversity

will plant OP seedlings

Unknown, negatives are trailing growth habit & moderate fertility

Idaeobatus

R. rosifolius Sm.

OR

2

Guizhou, China

1

like a small statured R. eustephanos; V. high no. drupelets/fruit; vigorous; adapted to regions w/v. high temperatures

odd flavor, no torus

Y

RRY

Yes, relatively easy

progenies did not survive to field

-

-

Fair. Very similar in many ways to R. sumatranus

Idaeobatus

R. sachalinensis H. Lev.

MD

4

NCGR

3

cold hardiness, vigor, drupelet size,

soft

N

RRY & PRY

Relatively easy w/RRY & PRY & w/hybrids of eastern BLK x R. ursinus

fully fertile

with BLK-large drupelets, soft fruit, extreme vigor, susc to fluctuating temps

4 BC's

V. useful for wyeberries- a parent of some of them

Idaeobatus

R. sachalinensis H. Lev.

OR

4

Hokkaido Japan, Heilongjiang, China

3

4x R. idaeus; exc. flavor & color

soft, poor set, poor productivity

Y

4x & 8x BLK

No, difficult to get good pollen

-

-

-

Fair. Only reason to work w/this vs R. idaeus is that it is 4x.

Idaeobatus

R. spectabilis Pursh

WA

2

NW US

N

root rot resist., early fruit production, erect growth

-

N

RRY

Yes

mostly sterile, 1-2 drupelets/fruit

root rot resist.

BC1 to RRY & OP seedlings of F1

Long time to reach cultivar because of low fertility.

Idaeobatus

R. sumatranus Miq.

MD

2 & 4c

NCGR

2

large fruit, Phytophthora resist.

no cold hardiness, soft

N

RRY

Yes but limited success w/RRY; Good success w/R. hirsutus hybrid

surprisingly good > 50%

thin walled frt. disappears, extreme vigor, cold sensitivity disappears in 2nd BC

3 BC's

Moderate

Idaeobatus

R. sumatranus Miq.

OR

2

Guizhou, China

2

v. high no. drupelets/fruit; vigorous; purported to have Phytophthora resist.

odd flavor, no torus; not disease tolerant

Y

RRY

Yes, fairly easy

nearly sterile w/occasional drupelet

shared characters of both species, but not happy plants

Yes in a way; population grown from OP drupelets

Unknown. Potentially excellent. OP population intermediate between idaeus/parvifolius types & sumatranus. Several completely fertile w/well formed fruit w/good firmness

Idaeobatus

R. sumatranus Miq.

WA

2

Anhui, China

N

genetic diversity, large numbers of drupelets/fruit, reported root rot resist., repeat flowering

loses vigor & most died within 2 years.

N

RRY

Yes, w/Meeker

mostly sterile, 1-2 drupelets/fruit at most

genetic diversity, repeat flowering

BC1 to RRY & OP seedlings of F1

Unknown, has some unusual fruit characteristics & fruiting habits, but not known if can improve fertility. Some seedlings very susceptible to yellow rust.

Idaeobatus

R. trifidus Thunb.

MD

2

NCGR

1

clean leaves, black color fruit

 

N

BRY

None

-

-

-

Unknown

 

Inter -subgeneric hybrid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter -subgeneric hybrid

R. glaucus Benth.

MD

4

USDA, PIS, Venezuela

4

fruit size, vigor, low chilling

no flowers no cold hardiness

N

Never flowered

None

-

-

-

Unknown

Inter -subgeneric hybrid

R. glaucus Benth.

OR

4

Ecuador; Hawaii, U.S.A.

5

outstanding processing quality, productive in mild climates

disease susceptible, winter tender

Y

4x, 8x, 10x BLK

Yes, easy

mostly sterile, 1-2 drupelets/fruit

-

-

Excellent potential

 

Malachobatus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malachobatus

R. assamensis Focke

OR

4

Jiangsu, China

1

did not survive to fruiting

poor winter hardiness

Y

 

-

-

-

 

 

Malachobatus

R. formosensis Kuntze

OR

4

Taiwan

1

good flavor, attractive plant.

not very productive

Y

RRY

Unsuccessful

-

-

-

Not sure would like to work w/more

Malachobatus

R. hayata-koidzumii Naruh. (R. calcynoides)

MD

2

Oregon nursery

1

clean, leathery leaves

small fruit, low vigor

N

RRY

Yes but very limited success w/RRY; No success w/BLK

-

puny F1's died

not available

None

Malachobatus

R. hayata-koidzumii Naruh. (R. calcynoides)

OR

4

Taiwan

1

great ground cover, sold widely in NW

trailing groundcover, not very productive

Y

4 x BLK

Unsuccessful

-

-

-

Poor except as ornamental

Malachobatus

R. hunanensis Hand.-Mazz.

OR

4

Guizhou, China

1

Yellow fruit

mite susceptible, not very productive, small crumbly fruit

Y

-

-

-

-

-

Poor

Malachobatus

R. irenaeus Focke

OR

6

Guizhou, China

2

attractive ground cover for shady areas, med-lg. heart shaped leaves, fertile, tasty fruit

trailer w/weak canes, not very productive

Y

6x BLK

Unsuccessful

-

-

-

Poor except as ornamental

Malachobatus

R. lambertianus Ser.

OR

4

Toyama, Japan; Jiangsu & Guizhou, China

3

huge number of yellow fruit/lateral; good flavor; extremely vigorous

small fruit, very late

Y

4x BLK

Yes, v. difficult

not known yet

-

-

Excellent, if can get cross to go due to fruit & fruiting characters, season, lack of disease

Malachobatus

R. multibracteatus H. Lev. & Vaniot

OR

4

Guizhou, China

3

huge, attractive, red, fruit w/good flavor & high numbers of drupelets

v. winter tender only fruits in years when temperatures do not drop much below 0C

Y

R. ursinus (8-12x)

Yes, easy

not known yet

-

-

Fair. Gorgeous fruit, very winter tender plant

Malachobatus

R. setchuenensis Bur. & Franch.

OR

4

Guizhou, China

1

v. productive, v. late, high number of fruit/lateral, perennial canes, black edible fruit

small fruit, v. late

Y

RRY

Unsuccessful

-

-

-

Good. Tremendously vigorous, excellent production but very late

Malachobatus

R. swinhoeii Hance

MD

4

NCGR

1

heterosis

v. poor flavor

N

Never flowered

None

-

-

-

Unknown

Malachobatus

R. swinhoeii Hance

OR

4

Guizhou, China

1

vigor, no disease problems

inedible, awful flavor; not very productive

Y

4x BLK

No

-

-

-

Poor. Flavor so awful that makes you wonder whether there is a chemical compound in the fruit that would be good for something, other than eating!

Malachobatus

R. tephrodes Hance

MD

4

NCGR

1

growth & cropping habit

small fruit

N

4x RRY

None

-

-

-

Unknown

Malachobatus

R. tephrodes Hance

OR

4

Guizhou, China

1

v. productive, v. late, high number of fruit/lateral, perennial canes, black edible fruit

small fruit, very late

Y

4x BLK

Yes, very difficult

progenies did not survive to field

-

-

Good. Tremendously vigorous, excellent production but very late

 

Orobatus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orobatus

R. glabratus Kunth

OR

6

Ecuador

1

groundcover

not very vigorous; died out due to winter injury

N

-

 

-

-

-

Poor

Orobatus

R. nubigenus Kunth (syn. R. macrocarpus Benth.)

MD

6

NCGR

1

reportedly large fruit

extreme susc. to mites, & high temperatures

N

Died

None

-

-

-

Unknown

Orobatus

R. roseus Poir.

MD

6

Costa Rica

1

low chilling, large no. drupelets

no flavor, no cold hardiness, thin fruit

N

Never flowered

None

-

-

-

Unknown

Orobatus

R. roseus Poir.

NC

6

Ecuador

N

extremely large fruit size; modest seed size

not hardy below 0C

N

Yes, to Lincoln Logan & NC121 (6x; Tay x BLK)

Yes in cross to NC121

v. low fertility

yet to be determined

not yet

Potentially, parent for extremely large fruit size

 

Rubus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rubus (NA)

R. argutus Link

MD

4

mid Atlantic N. America

4

large fruit, cold hardiness

small fruit, thorny

Y

BLK

Easy

almost full

Penn & W. Md. Material has good cold hardiness, firm fruit, "tight" not juicy

2 BC's

Unknown, possibly very good

Rubus (E)

R. axillaris Lej.

OR

4

Sweden

1

looks like many other Eur. BLK spec.

 

N

4x & 8x BLK

Limited success

-

-

-

-

Rubus (SA)

R. bogatensis Kunth

MD

2

Venezuela

2

low chilling, high vigor

small, poor set, no cold hardiness

N

No flow.

None

-

-

none

Unknown

Rubus (E)

R. caesius L.

MD

4

Poland, NCGR

3

fall bearing habit

smaller fruit thorny

Y

BLK & RRY

Limited success

> 50%

fall bearing, slight raspberry type fruit

1 BC

Unknown, fall bearing BLK character disappeared after tissue culture

Rubus (E)

R. caesius L.

OR

4

Tajikistan

1

productive, glaucus fruit

few drupelets/fruit

Y

4x BLK

Yes, but drastically varying results from no seed set to very fertile

fertile

vigorous, upright, fertile

Not yet

Unsure

Rubus (NA)

R. canadensis L.

NC

2

High elevations in W. NC

3

cold hardiness; exc. fruit quality; semi-thornlessness; very erect plant habit

small fruit size

Y

Yes, Hillquist

Yes

fertile

similar to those listed for the species above

F2 segregated for primocane fruiting

Excellent fruit quality, very erect plant habit, cold hardiness

Rubus (E)

R. caucasicus Focke

OR

4

Russia

1

productive, vigorous, exc. set, no disease

-

Y

4x BLK

Yes, easy

fully fertile

vigorous, productive, Commercial quality in F1

not yet

Excellent potential for 4x BLK breeding

Rubus (NA)

R. cuneifolius Pursh.

MD

4

MD

1

salt water tolerance, juicy, exc.flavor fruit

very nasty thorns, cold hardiness?

Y

BLK

Easy

>75%

extremely large size & juiciness; Excellent flavor

2 BC's

Very high

Rubus (E)

R. cyri Juz.

OR

4

Russia

1

looks like many other Eur. BLK spec.

looks like many other Eur. BLK spec.

N

No

-

-

-

-

 

Rubus (NA)

R. flagellaris Willd.

NC

8

Piedmont & western N. Carolina

N

non-bitter flavor; improved hardiness in trailing BLK; early ripening; drought tolerance

trailing habit; small drupelet number

Wild

Yes, 4x BLK & 4x RRY

Yes

fertile

early ripening; increased drupelet number

BCed to hexaploid BLK & hybridberry

Good parent for early ripening & somewhat improved hardiness in trailing BLK

Rubus (E)

R. georgicus Focke

OR

4

Russia

1

looks like many other Eur. BLK spec.

looks like many other Eur. BLK spec.

Y

4x BLK

Yes, easy

-

-

-

Decent if breeding in 4x BLK background

Rubus (E)

R. insularis F. Aresch

OR

4

Sweden

1

looks like many other Eur. BLK spec.

looks like many other Eur. BLK spec.

N

6x, 8x & 10x BLK

No

-

-

-

Fair, if breeding 4 x BLK may have some potential

Rubus (E)

R. trivialis Michx.

NC

2

SE US

N

early-ripening; heat & high humidity resist.

trailing habit; small inflorescence size

Wild

RRY

Yes

generally sterile-v. low fertility, except relatively fertile F1 w/Glen Prosen

resist. to variable winter temperatures; heat & humidity resist.

relatively fertile F1 BCed to unrelated RRY cultivars

Potentially valuable parent for heat & humidity resist., resist. to variable winter temperatures, & early ripening

Rubus (NA)

R. ursinus Cham. & Schltdl.

OR

7-13

Western N. America

~50

outstanding fruit quality, productive, exc. fruit size

dioecious, foliar disease susc.

Y

RRY, 4x-12x BLK, many other species

Yes, easy w/other BLK & RRY; varying success on species but usually get some set

fertile-fully fertile

excellent flavor, extremely early, back to commercial size quickly, soft

Yes, BC's to BLK & raspberry cultivars

Outstanding source of new/improved traits. May serve as a bridge to cross w/many species of divergent ploidy. Many pollination attempts easy due to dioecy

Rubus (SA)

R. urticifolius Poir.

OR

2

Ecuador

1

unknown

very winter tender

N

No

-

-

-

-

Poor. Too winter tender

Abbreviations

Program: BC=Agriculture and AgriFoods Canada, Agassiz, BC, MD=University of Maryland, NC= North Carolina State University, OR= USDA-ARS, Corvallis, Ore., WA=Washington State University.

Ploidy: c=colchiploid;

Crosses attempted: BLK=blackberry, BRY=black raspberry, RRY=red raspberry, PRY=purple raspberry

Subgenera Rubus: (E)=Europe, (NA)= North America, (SA)=South America

In other descriptions: &=and, BC=backcross, BCed=backcrossed, E.=east(ern); N.-North, Eur.=European, exc.=excellent, frt.=fruit, gen.=generation(s), N=No, NCGR=National Clonal Germplasm Repository, no.=number, rel.=relatively, resist.=resistant/resistance, SE=southeast, SW=southwest, temp.=temperature(s), US=United States, v.=very, w/=with, Y=yes;