Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) GLEN AMPLE

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) 'Glen Ample'

Scottish thornless variety that has become a commercial standard in Europe.

'Glen Ample' is a Scottish raspberry variety that has become one of the most significant commercial standards in Europe. It is a summer-bearing (floricane/once-fruiting) variety, which fruits on one-year-old canes. It stands out primarily for its extreme yield, large fruits, and thornless canes.

Key Highlights:

• Extreme yield: One of the most productive summer varieties (achieved 22 t/ha in trials).
• Absence of thorns: Smooth canes facilitate work and harvesting.
• Fruit quality: Large, firm, and attractive fruits with good shelf life.
• Upright growth and good fruit visibility (easy harvesting).
• Resistance to the large raspberry aphid (the main vector of viruses).

Origin and Registration

• Origin: Scotland (United Kingdom). Breeding institution: Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI), Invergowrie, Dundee. Breeders: Ronnie J. McNicol and Derek L. Jennings.
• Genetics: Originated within the breeding program in 1978 by crossing two unnamed SCRI selections ('SCRI 7326E1' x 'SCRI 7412H16'). Its pedigree includes known varieties such as 'Glen Prosen' and 'Meeker'. It is a sister variety to 'Glen Rosa'.
• Registration: Selected in 1981 (original designation 7815B8), patented in the USA in 2000.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth: Strong (good growth vigor). The habit is very upright.
• Canes: Completely thornless, which significantly eases harvesting and maintenance. They grow to a height of 165 to 195 cm.
• Foliage: Slightly sparser, ensuring excellent visibility and accessibility of fruits during harvest. The fruiting laterals are long and very upright.

Fruit

• Size and Weight: Large. The average weight is around 4 g, but fruits up to 6 g are commonly found.
• Shape and Color: Round-conical. Bright red color.
• Flesh and Cohesion: Firm and fleshy. Drupelet cohesion is good, although it may be slightly reduced in colder climates (like Scotland).
• Taste: Very good. Sugar content (Brix) is approximately 10.5%.
• Usage: Excellent as a high-quality dessert fruit for direct consumption (fresh market), but also very suitable for processing (freezing, canning).

Resistance and Requirements

• Pests: The variety is resistant to the large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora idaei), which is the main vector of viral diseases.
• Diseases (Disadvantage): Medium susceptibility to Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) has been noted.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-late variety. Harvest begins approximately 7 to 8 days after the 'Glen Clova' variety. Characterized by a long harvest period.
• Shelf life: Very good. When stored at 2 °C, the fruits last 6 to 8 days, which was above average at the time of testing.