Apple Altai Amber

Autumn cultivar of folk selection, origin unknown. Obviously, it is a spontaneous hybrid of Siberian apple with one of the medium Russian varieties. It was widely spread in the gardens of Siberia and the Far East. It was regionally approved since 1947 for the East Siberian and Far Eastern regions. Absent in new plantings.

Trees are medium-sized, with wide-rounded, dense crowns and thin hanging branches.

Shoots are thin, curved, brownish, without hairs. Leaves are medium-sized, elongated, green, glossy, with a broad-angled base, finely toothed edges, without hairs. Petioles are long, thin, yellowish, with small crescent-shaped stipules.

Fruits are exceptionally small (7-12 g), round, ribbed. Main color is golden-yellow, with a light orange blush on the sun-exposed side. Fruit stalks are long, thin, without hairs. Calyx falls off.

Flesh is yellow, sour-sweet, astringent, of poor flavor. Chemical composition of fruits: total sugars — 12.4% (11.6-13.7), titratable acids — 1.62% (1.40-1.99), tannins — 223 mg/100g (58-332), ascorbic acid — 14.6 mg/100g (14.1-15.0), P-active compounds — 195 mg/100g (58-340).

Harvesting time — first half of September, fruits keep until 30 days. Mature fruits often overripen. Cultivar for technical use. Fruits are used to make high-quality jam, preserves, and wine.

Fruit production begins on the third to fourth year. High yield, irregular fruiting. High winter hardiness, sensitive to scab.

Advantages of the cultivar: high winter hardiness.

Disadvantages of the cultivar: exceptionally small fruits, sensitivity to scab.