Influence of High Tunnel and Shade on Blackberry Yield and White Drupelet Disorder

This 2-year study was arranged in a split-split-plot design to determine effects of shade and/or high tunnel on yield and incidence of white drupelets on ‘Kiowa’, a floricane-fruiting blackberry, and ‘Prime-Jan’, a primocane-fruiting blackberry.  Yield, berry weight, and the number of fruit with white drupelets per 25-berry sample was recorded.  Total yield was variable in 2012, but was much greater inside high tunnel in 2013.  Berry size was not influenced by high tunnel or shade. ‘Kiowa’ berry weight was approximately twice that of ‘Prime-Jan’ in both years.  In both years, the incidence of white drupelets on both cultivars was reduced under shade inside and outside of high tunnel.  Yield was not affected by shade in this 2-year study.