Crumbliness in red raspberry – a review of the research in Weinsberg

In German raspberry plantations, especially in the cultivar ‘Tulameen’, fruit deformation and crumbliness are observed, which lead to a loss of marketable crop and higher picking costs.
Hypotheses about the cause for these malformations (deformed plus crumbly fruit) are diseases and insufficient plant material quality.
In experiments at the research station Weinsberg it was found that an infection with Rubus stunt phytoplasma can be the reason.
When several visual symptoms (e.g., stunted growth, witches broom, enlarged sepals) are observed, analysis by PCR or nested PCR methods is positive.
But phytoplasmas could not be verified, when only deformation or only proliferation is observed.
Heat therapy and long-term selection increase fruit quality.

XII I8nternational Rubus and Ribes Symposium: Innovative Rubus and Ribes Production for High Quality Berries in Changing Environments

G. Muster

red raspberry, crumbly fruit, fruit deformation, selection, heat therapy, Rubus stunt

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1277.52