Combination of genes from eastern and western blackberries
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has released three new blackberry varieties – Eclipse, Galaxy and Twilight that have been created by combining the best genes of eastern and western blackberries. The sought after traits of eastern erect-cane blackberries and western trailing blackberries have been combined into new varieties with thorn less semi-erect canes to create new berry niches by the ARS’ Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, in conjunction with the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station.
Eclipse has not only inherited the outstanding flavor and sweet, fruity taste, with hints of root beer and spice of one of its parents, Triple Crown, but also has a firmer skin. Eclipse also ripens earlier thereby filling the gap in the fresh market harvest season between when trailing varieties ripen and when Triple Crown ripens. Galaxy has similar traits as Eclipse but its berries are slightly larger than those of Eclipse with dark-colored fruit. Twilight has higher yield than Eclipse and has a complex, deep blackberry jam flavor, with floral and honey notes, but the berries are not as sweet compared to other blackberries.
