Description of three new arctic bramble cultivars and proposal for cultivar identification

Morphological and yield differences between five arctic bramble (Rubus arct icus L.) strains and the cultivars Pima and Mespi were studied at two locat ions during the growing season 1994. Morphological observations and measure ments were made on canes, leaves, flowers and berries, adapting the UPOV (U nion pour la Protection des Obtentions Vegetales) descriptions for strawber ry and raspberry. The plants were also compared with the aid of random ampl ified polymorphic DNA analysis. Apart from DNA, the most important distinct ive characteristic was yield. Characteristics of the flowers, leaves and be rries, such as number, size, shape and colour were used to differentiate be tween the arctic bramble genotypes. The yield of three new cultivars, named Marika, Muuruska and Elpee, was greater than that of Pima or Mespi. The yi eld of 'Marika' and 'Elpee' was 2,4-times and that of 'Muuruska' 1,9-times that of 'Pima' or 'Mespi'. Based on distinctive morphological characteristi cs, guidelines for the description of arctic bramble are proposed. This des cription may also be used for hybrids of arctic bramble with Rubus stellatu s Sm., i.e. Rubus arcticus L. nothosubsp. stellarcticus G. Larsson.