Production of blackberry and redberry in Lavras - MG, Brazil

Berries are widespread in temperate zones, but some cultivars have low requirements in cold weather and can be exploited in areas with high temperatures. The goal of this study was to evaluate the production of blackberries and redberry in Lavras (climate Cwb). The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replications and eleven treatments ('Arapaho', 'Xavante', 'Ebano', 'Comanche', 'Caingangue', 'Choctaw', 'Tupy', 'Guarani', 'Brazos' and 'Cherokee' blackberry cultivars and the redberry, native from Brazil). In each experimental plot it was evaluated phonological data, production data during 2010/11 and 2011/12 and physicochemical fruit characteristics. The blackberry cultivars have production cycle between 66 and 133 days, harvest period starting in September until January, and redberry production cycle has 283 days. 'Brazos' presented the highest estimated yield (kg ha(-1)). 'Brazos' and 'Guarani' cultivars enabled the production of higher fruit mass, while 'Caingangue', 'Tupy' and 'Choctaw' presented a good balance between soluble solids content and titratable acidity. The redberry had a high fruit production (527g per plant on 1st cycle and 344g per plant on 2nd cycle) and showed to be an excellent choice for processing.