Rubus occidentalis

Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.), is a minor but important specialty fruit crop in the United States Pacific Northwest prized for its unique flavor and potential health benefits. Black raspberry is diploid (2n = 2x = 14) and belongs to the same subgenus (Idaeobatus) as red raspberry (R. idaeus L.), with which it can be readily crossed. The global commercial raspberry production exceeds 500,000 metric tons. Since the early 1900s, black raspberry production in the U.S. has seen a marked decline that many attribute to disease pressures and a lack of cultivars with sufficient resistance. Black raspberry cultivars suffer from limited genetic diversity stemming from the narrow gene pool used in the elite germplasm and lack of breeding progress.