‘KARAKA BLACK’: ANOTHER “MAMMOTH” BLACKBERRY FROM CROSSING EASTERN AND WESTERN USA BLACKBERRIES

The ‘Mammoth’ blackberry was produced from a cross between ‘Aughinbaugh’, (a female 8x Rubus ursinus West Coast USA blackberry) and ‘Crandall’ or ‘Texas Early’ (an Eastern USA upright blackberry). In New Zealand a similar cross was made between ‘Aurora’ (~8x-derived from R. ursinus) and ‘Comanche’ (an Arkansas upright blackberry cultivar derived from Eastern USA blackberries) in 1982. In these seedlings there was great variability, in fruit size, firmness and cane characteristics. Two selections from this cross, one with very large fruit and another with very firm fruit were subsequently inter-crossed and a population of about 200 seedlings planted. Several selections were chosen including 8627N8-6, which had exceptionally large, firm fruit and a long harvest season. This selection had less vigorous canes than the other selections but was retained for trials because of its other attributes. It proved to be of high quality and has subsequently been named `Karaka Black’