BREEDING OF RASPBERRY VARIETIES ADAPTED TO HORIZONTAL GROWING SYSTEM

In a material of raspberry crossings from 1966 and 1967 there were with reference to some form of mechanical harvesting looked for varieties with easy removable berries after shaking.
For testing the selected clones the New Zealand canopy system were used but modified in a more simple way.

In 1979 trial were started with 8 clones.
After 4 years harvest 3 were selected and named ‘Zenith’, ‘Vega’ and ‘Futura’. It is medium to small fruited varieties, but suitable for industrial purposes. ‘Zenith’ is the highest yielding and it seems rather hardy against winter frost.

New crossings are made to get varieties with better fruit size usable for the fresh fruit market.

The following criteria are considered as the most important for selection of varieties suitable for mechanical harvesting to the horizontal growing system: Easy relaxation of ripe fruits after shaking, many and long canes, high yield, winter hardy plants and firm fruits.

It is considered that the canopy system is mostly adapted to the smaller holdings.

IV International Rubus and Ribes Symposium

A. Thuesen

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.183.9