NC-194 PRIMOCANE-FRUITING THORNY ERECT TETRAPLOID BLACKBERRY GERMPLASM

'NC 194' is a primocane-fruiting thorny erect tetraploid blackberry th at resulted from selfing 'Arkansas 593.' It fruits in both spring/earl y summer and fall, with a prolonged fall fruiting season in North Caro lina. Fruit size is small fruit quality and firmness are average, and the plant is weak vegetatively. 'NC 194' does not appear to have poten tial as a fruiting cultivar on its own merits. However, it is potentia lly valuable as a source of genes for transferring the primocane-fruit ing habit to improved tetraploid blackberry genotypes. The primocane-f ruiting habit in this genetic background appears to be recessive and s imply inherited in tetrasomic fashion, with degree of expression gover ned by modifier genes.