Breeding potential for high-yield raspberry varieties

Abstract

Twelve original parental forms of raspberry, as well as their nine progeny combinations of controlled breeding, were evaluated for the main performance characteristics. The work was carried out at the collection and trial gardens of the Kokin testing station of the FSBSO ARHCBAN in 2019-2021. The shoot loading was determined under field conditions by counting the fruiting branches on a stem and the average number of berries per 1 fruiting branch. The original forms were subjected to triple analysis. The average mass of berries was determined by measuring no less than 100 fruits in each analysis using the SCC-750 electronic balance. Hybrid seedlings were counted by bush, and at least 30 fruits were collected from each plant to determine the average berry mass. The weather conditions during the study period varied considerably. This ensured a more accurate evaluation of the studied raspberry material for its performance characteristics. Several varieties were differentiated by the following parameters: Smile, Gusar, Lavina, Skromnitsa and selected forms 8-6-3 and 11-126-1 by the number of laterals per stem (20 and more); Brigantina and selected form 11-126-1 by the number of fruits per lateral (16 berries per fruiting branch); Cowichan, Lavina, Phenomen by fruit mass (over 3.5 g). The negative association of berry mass with the number of berries per fruiting branch was confirmed. It was established that the berry mass is associated by 25 % with the variations in fruit number on the lateral. Analysing the hybrid progeny allowed the most promising breeding combinations to be identified based on performance characteristics. When breeding for improving the number of laterals per stem, the families Gusar×8-6-3, Gusar×Volnitsa, 8-6-3×Cowichan, 8-6-3×Smile deserve special attention; Gusar×Volnitsa, 8-6-3×Smile, 8-6-3×D-1-1, Skromnitsa×Phenomenon and 18-11-2×11-126-1 when breeding for improving polycarpic yield; Skromnitsa×Phenomenon and Brigantina×Lavina when breeding for improving the size of a fruit. Among the hybrid progeny of some breeding combinations, the genotypes 2-58-2, 2-58-3 (18-11-2×11-126-1), 2-60-1, 2-61-2 (Hussar×8-6-3), 2-59-1, 2-59-2 (Skromnitsa×Phenomenon), 2-83-1 (Brigantina×Lavina), and 2-60-2 (8-6-3×Cowichan) were obtained that exhibit several performance characteristics and represent novel material in raspberry breeding for yield improvement.