The diversity of blackberry habitus and its significance for cultivars’ growing in the conditions of central Russia

Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK), 302530, Orel, Russian Federation

^* Corresponding author: gruner@vniispk.ru

Abstract

The article deals with the main morphological groups of blackberries — erect, trailing and intermediates — semi-erect and semi-trailing. The nature of shoots’ growth and the way of natural vegetative reproduction were used as the basic criteria for this grouping, which together reflect the polymorphism of the plant being one of the adaptability indicators to different growth conditions. The expediency of such division for grouping of the existing blackberry cultivars’ diversity with complex genetic origin was substantiated. As an additional criterion of this grouping, the shoots growth dynamics of morphological groups’ typical representatives has been studied, which shows their differences during vegetation and in transition to period of plants’ rest. In the phase of growth completion, the differences between group representatives were particularly clear: erect are characterized by early completion of growth processes, trailing do not finish them until the end of the growing season, semi-trailing/semi-erect complete growth in the term in between the first two groups. There is a difference in winter resistance of old erect cultivars and more modern members of this group of blackberries with different genetic origin; the latter’s significant advantages are noted due to their thornlessness and lack of abundant growth. The role of plants’ habitus of the main morphological groups’ representatives for their cultivation in the conditions of the middle zone of Russia and, first of all, for overwintering cultivars; the value of both erect primocane-fruit cultivars and trailing - less winter-resistant, but the most convenient for winter shelter by habitus.