Apple Akhhtubinskoe

Early winter variety developed at the Volgograd Experimental Station of the All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Growing named after N. I. Vavilov by sowing seeds of Renet Simirenko from open pollination. Breeders: V. V. Malychenko and L. N. Balandina. Passed state testing and recommended as a promising variety for home gardens and farms in Volgograd and Astrakhan regions and the Republic of Kalmykia. Propagated in nurseries of the Volgograd region.

Medium-sized, fast-growing trees. Crown is round-shaped, later becomes spreading, medium density and foliage. Main branches are curved, medium thickness and brown color.

Shoots are long, thick, curved, green with brown, reddish-brown, and steel tones. Pods are numerous, large, round. Internodes are short.

Leaf blade is isosceles, medium size and width, mostly elongated-oval, occasionally egg-shaped, green color, wrinkled, matte, convex, curved downwards along the central vein. Leaf apex is broad-angled, tip is long, gradually tapering, base is rounded. Leaf blade margins are smooth and slightly wavy, coarsely single-toothed. Petiole is medium length, lightly anthocyanin-colored only at its base.

Fruits (apples), mostly large or medium-sized, uniform, slightly ribbed, elongated-ovoid shape. Main color is light green, very similar to Renet Simirenko. After harvest, they turn yellowish-green when stored.

Flesh is slightly cream-colored, tender, finely grained, very juicy, pleasant sour-sweet taste with strong aroma. Chemical composition of fruits: dry matter — 17.8% (maximum 19.0%), total sugars — 10.9% (12%), titratable acids — 0.78% (0.8%) on fresh weight, ascorbic acid — 8.5 mg/100g (9.0), sugar-to-acid ratio 14.0 (15.0), polyphenolic compounds — flavonols — 9 mg/100g, catechins — 46 mg/100g, total phenolic compounds — 203 mg/100g, pectic substances — 0.54% on fresh weight.

Harvest maturity occurs in mid-October; fruits can be stored until January inclusive. Yield is very high, almost annual. Cold hardiness significantly exceeds that of its parent — Renet Simirenko, which suffers severe frost damage in the Volgograd region. Drought resistance is moderate. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew, but occasionally affected by scab in wet years.

Advantages of the variety: high yield and cold hardiness, excellent fruit flavor, moderate tree growth.

Disadvantages of the variety: in wet years, the variety requires protection against scab damage; some fruits are prone to overripening.