13 November 2017
It is somewhat passé these days to say that blackberries lack the sweet flavour of their berry cousins; the strawberry, raspberry and blueberry. Although they continue to lag behind these better-known fruits in terms of overall consumption, there have been a number of improved varieties released into the market in the past few years.
One of the most recent examples of better eating blackberries is the variety Von, from North Carolina State University. The Intellectual Property of this variety is managed by Global Plant Genetics for all worldwide territories other than the USA and Europe. Von offers both growers and fruit marketers a number of advantages. Overall, it provides an excellent combination of fruit quality and exceptional productivity.
Von is the result of many years of breeding and is a complex cross of a range of genetics that, all put together, have produced this leading blackberry cultivar. The fruit quality of Von really sets it apart from many varieties currently in the market place. The eating experience is superlative and this is borne out of several factors; high soluble solids that provide a sweet flavour, low acids that reduce the berry’s astringency and uniquely, very small seeds that provide a texture and mouth-feel that are extremely unusual in blackberries. Modern blackberry breeding has often focused on the identification of larger berries. These certainly have their place in the
market but many people prefer a medium sized berry that can be eaten in a single bite. Von’s fruits are 6.6g each on average, making them of the medium sized nature.
Agronomically speaking, Von blackberry is ideal for growers. It combines thornless canes with an upright growth habit. These character traits mean that the plants are easy to manage in a range of growing situations. Von has a medium chilling requirement and is considered as a late season cropper, making it ideal for season extension purposes. The final and very important fact to mention is that the marketable yields produced by Von are industry-leading.
Von is set to play an important role in blackberry production across a range of worldwide territories.
Stay tuned to Global Plant Genetics for the latest information.
