Blackberry plant named ‘Zodiac’

Abstract

A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed produced from a cross between the thornless maternal blackberry plant ‘ORDS 2707-1’ (unpatented) and the thornless paternal blackberry plant ‘ORDS 2785-2’ (unpatented)). This new blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by its high yields of small-to-medium sized, uniformly shaped, glossy, and distinctly conical berries that can be machine harvested with good firmness and quality for a trailing type of blackberry. The berries are well suited for processing, with an excellent flavor characterized by mild sweetness, and a good sugar/acid balance. The new and distinct blackberry variety has fruit that are borne on vigorous canes which combine two distinct sources of genetic thornlessness (‘Austin Thornless’, ‘Lincoln Logan’) from the respective female and male parent.

We claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct cultivar of thornless blackberry plant named ‘Zodiac’, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its high yields of machine harvestable berries, which are uniform and conical with good firmness, skin toughness, excellent flavor, and processing quality, and combining multiple sources of genetic thornlessness.