Karaja blackberry variety

The blackberry cultivar Karaja, tested as selection Black 223, was obtained by open pollination from selection Black 132 which, in turn, originated from hybridization in 2003 between the North American cultivars Brazos and Arapaho. In 2006, seeds were extracted from Black 132 fruit, obtained by open pollination, giving rise to seedlings. Among the seedlings of the progeny obtained, one of the plant was selected and identified as Black 223, which was propagated asexually by root cuttings and placed in a collection for more detailed phenological and agronomic evaluations.
Karaja plants have an erect growth habit. The predominant position of the secondary branches is in the upper half of the stem, and the dormant branch has a medium reddish pigmentation (anthocyanin), with an angular cross-section. Both the primary and secondary stems do not have thorns.
Budding usually begins in August. In the conditions of South Brazil flowering generally lasts from the first half of September to the second half of October. The flowers are large, white with a pinkish tinge, especially when still in bud, and can have a number of petals multiple of five, although in general, five petals.
Harvesting usually begins in the second week of November and lasts until the end of December (or, sporadically, the beginning of January), which is a few days earlier than for the Tupy and Xavante cultivars, and around 10 days earlier than for Cainguá. In experimental cultivation, with no irrigation and no support for the plants, therefore keeping them at a low height, production averaged just over 1.5 kg per plant. In another experiment, on espaliers and with a water supply, the first production was 2.5 kg per plant and the average production over the first three years was 2.73 kg per plant.
The accumulated production in the first three years was 54.67 t/ha.
The total soluble solids content in the fruit is between 8 and 10 Brix, but the relatively high acidity makes the fruit inferior in taste to those of the Tupy cultivar. On the other hand, they have a slightly to moderately bitter taste, much less noticeable than the fruit of the Ebony and Xavante cultivars, the only Brazilian cultivars without thorns, available on the market.
Karaja could be sold fresh, but it is inferior in appearance, size and taste compared to the fruits of cultivars intended for this purpose, such as Cainguá.