Thorny, trailing blackberry with high quality fruit that are similar in color and shape to ‘Boysen’ but that ‘‘bleed’’ much less in fresh market handling. Origin: USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, by C.E. Finn, B.C. Strik, B.M. Yorgey, R.R. Martin, and M.M. Stahler. ORUS 834-5 × ORUS 1045-14 (a Scottish hybrid of a tetraploid raspberry and a tetraploid blackberry are in the pedigree); crossed 1992; selected 1994; tested as ORUS 1324-1; introd. 2009. Tree: trailing; thorny; extremely vigorous; very high yields, 50% greater than Marion; long fruiting laterals; machine harvests easily; not particularly susceptible to septoria leaf spot (Mycosphaerella rubi) or purple blotch (Septocyta ruborum); no vegetative or fruit symptoms of cane or leaf rust (Kuehneola uredinsis); hardiness not well tested but survived –8 C in northern Washington when Marion was severely damaged. Fruit: dark purple, Boysen color; large, 7 g; irregular, blocky, blunt conic; attractive; glossy; firm, comparable to Kotata; good texture but more noticeable seeds than Marion and Kotata; excellent sweet flavor but not the same as Boysen; SS and pH similar to Black Diamond; titratable acidity lower than Marion and Black Diamond; overall excellent processing characteristics; firm enough to ship in whole-sale fresh market; ripens with Marion in midseason.
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