Comparison of `Marion' to Thornless Blackberry Genotypes as Individually Quick-frozen and Puree Products

Abstract

<jats:p>The trailing blackberries (<jats:italic>Rubus</jats:italic> sp. L.), particularly `Marion', are the primary blackberries grown for the processing market and they are largely machine harvested. While `Marion' is well known for its processed fruit quality, particularly flavor, aroma, and perception of low seediness, it has spines (thorns) that can be dislodged when machine harvested and end up in the product. A primary goal of the USDA–ARS blackberry breeding program in Corvallis is the development of cultivars that are comparable to `Marion' in fruit quality but are spineless (thornless). Nine thornless selections were compared with four standard cultivars as individually quick-frozen (IQF) and puree products in a blind evaluation. Each sample was scored panelists from the blackberry industry and research program. IQF samples were scored for appearance, color, seediness, flavor, and overall quality by 21 panelists and purees were scored for color, flavor, aroma, and overall quality by 25 panelists. Both panels used a 9 point hedonic scale (1 = dislike extremely, 5 = neither like nor dislike, 9 = like extremely). With the exception of color, there were significant differences among all genotypes for all traits evaluated in the IQF and pureed products. ORUS 1380-1 was ranked similar to `Marion' and significantly better than `Waldo', in overall quality of the IQF product. In puree form, ORUS 1843-1 and ORUS 1843-3 had the highest ranking in overall quality, but were only both statistically different from ORUS 1489-2. For pureed product flavor, ORUS 1843-1 was the highest rated selection but was not statistically different from `Marion'. While ORUS 1843-1 and ORUS 1843-3 hold great promise, they are from a cross between wild collected <jats:italic>Rubus ursinus</jats:italic> Cham. &amp; Schlt. and `Waldo' and as a result have some negative characteristics of the native species, particularly small fruit size. The puree quality of NZ 9128R-1, NZ 9351-4 and ORUS 1380-1 was similar to `Marion' and these genotypes offer promise as thornless replacements for `Marion'.</jats:p>

'Black Pearl' Thornless Trailing Blackberry

“…In separate studies, the chemical characteristics of commercial cultivars and several advanced selections including 'Black Pearl' were evaluated (Siriwoharn et al, 2004). Yorgey and Finn (2005) prepared individually quick frozen (IQF) and puree products from several genotypes for evaluation by a blind panel of untrained experts.…”

“…'Black Pearl' and other new cultivars were evaluated by a blind panel as IQF and puree samples (Yorgey and Finn, 2005). As an IQF fruit, 'Black Pearl' was ranked higher than 'Marion', 'Silvan', and 'Waldo' for color, appearance, and seediness and it was ranked similar to 'Marion', but higher than 'Silvan' and 'Waldo', for fl avor and "overall quality".…”

'Nightfall' Thornless Trailing Blackberry

“…Plant ratings were conducted one time each year from 2001-03 during the fruiting season for primocane and fl oricane vigor, spines (9 = spineless; cultivars derived from 'Austin Thornless' are seldom completely spineless, basal spines are common and occasionally a single spine on the lower side of the petiolule), and fl owering/fruiting lateral length (1 = very short, 5 = very long) and strength (1 = weak, droopy; 5 = stiff, sturdy) (Table 4). In a concurrent study, Yorgey and Finn (2005) evaluated the processing characteristics of several cultivars and advanced selections in-cluding 'Nightfall'. They prepared individually quick frozen and puree products from several genotypes for evaluation by a blind panel of untrained experts.…”

“…'Nightfall' and other new cultivars were evaluated by a blind panel as individually quick frozen (IQF) and puree samples (Yorgey and Finn, 2005). 'Nightfall' has been evaluated in blind panels by industry representatives as processed IQF and pureed products.…”

‘Hall’s Beauty’ Thornless Trailing Blackberry

“…The number of fruit per lateral was determined based on counting the fruit on five typical fruiting laterals in each plot once during the season in 2016-17. Some of the fruit harvested in 2013 were frozen, pur eed, and assessed in a blind evaluation by a blackberry panel composed of growers, packers, processors, and researchers as described in Yorgey and Finn (2005) (Table 3). Titratable acidity, percent soluble solids, and pH were determined from harvested fruit (Table 4).…”