Breeding company presented new thornless blackberry varieties, Black Rainier and Black Iguazú
The fifth edition of Planasa’s Genetics Forum Iberia, held in Huelva on 12 June was the backdrop for the official presentation of the breeder’s two new thornless blackberry varieties, Black Ranier and Black Iguazú.
Around 150 berry professionals from Huelva and Portugal attended the event, which has established itself as a key forum for knowledge exchange and the sharing of technical and genetic advancements in berry varieties.
The event was opened by Luis Hernández, commercial director for strawberries and rubus in Iberia at Planasa, who highlighted the importance of maintaining close communication with growers to continue developing varieties adapted to the current and future needs of the sector.
Next, Pedro Domínguez, head of Planasa’s strawberry breeding programme, provided an overview of the 2025/26 season, analysing the varietal situation in Huelva, the agronomic and commercial performance of Planasa’s main varieties, and the trends observed in the market.
Domínguez highlighted the leading position of RedSayra, the most planted variety in Spain this season, and shared the main lines of work for the company’s strawberry breeding program for the coming seasons.
Elisa Pérez, head of the rubus breeding programme for the EMEA region, then presented the latest developments in raspberries and blackberries. In the case of raspberries, she highlighted the evolution of varieties such as Pink Hudson and Pink Loira, in addition to detailing the company’s efforts and strong commitment to this product.
The major new feature of this edition was the inclusion of blackberries in the event programme for the first time. During her presentation, Pérez officially introduced the new thornless blackberry varieties Black Rainier and Black Iguazú, two thornless selections developed to meet the current demands of growers, marketers, and consumers, combining fruit quality, agronomic performance, and ease of management in a market with enormous potential.
Planasa said the Genetics Forum Iberia is part of its commitment to more efficient, innovative, and sustainable agriculture by sharing technical knowledge about its varieties, facilitating the exchange of information, and offer tools to maximise crop yields and farm profitability.
