Caucasian Crimson

Late-winter variety developed at the North Caucasus Regional Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (Krasnodar) by crossing Red Delicacy and Jonared. Breeders: L. M. Sergeev, L. S. Naumova, E. I. Kostetskaya, V. E. Kharina, I. L. Efimova, T. A. Koshelova. A promising variety to replace red Delicacy group varieties. After passing state testing, it was included in the State Register since 2003.

Tree with moderate growth, in early years it has a broad-pyramidal crown, then becomes rounded, medium density and foliage, slow-growing. Trunk with smooth brown-gray bark. Main branches diverge from the trunk at a sharp angle, branches curved, spaced widely, ends pointing upward. Bears fruit mainly on simple and compound buds.

Shoots with closely spaced internodes, brown-gray, medium thickness, straight, round in cross-section, with slight pubescence, numerous small lenticels. Leaves dark green, upward-facing, large, elongated, broadly egg-shaped, short-tipped, matte, slightly pubescent. Petiole long, medium thickness, slightly pubescent. Leaf blade slightly concave, curved downward. Leaf margin finely toothed, medium-wavy.

Flowers large to medium, small-cup-shaped, aromatic, white with a pinkish tint, oval petals, pubescent, medium-length stigmas, stigmas at the same level as anthers.

Fruits large, above-average size, relatively uniform, round-conical shape, sometimes slightly flattened, more often equilateral. Fruit surface slightly ribbed. Main skin color at harvest is greenish-yellow with diffuse dark-red or dark carmine blush covering the entire fruit; in late harvest (early October) develops a purple tint. Numerous, well-visible, large to medium subcutaneous dots, creamy with slight rusting, projecting above the fruit surface, giving the skin a slightly rough, dry texture with a weak waxy coating, sometimes slight rusting. Peduncle medium thickness and length. Calyx deep and narrow. Receptacle deep or medium depth, wide, medium-furrowed. Calyx not falling off, closed or half-closed. Subcalyx tube short, medium width, cup-shaped. Axial cavity medium size, seed chambers open with narrow slits. Seeds medium size, egg-shaped, light brown.

Flesh creamy, often light carmine beneath the skin, sometimes colored with fibers, firm, fine-grained, juicy. Taste sweet-sour, pleasant. Aroma medium. Sensory taste rating — 4.4-4.7 points.

Fruits highly attractive — 4.7 points, remain edible until April, well transportable. Occasionally, bitter pit disease is observed during storage. In the Krasnodar region, fruits accumulate: dry matter — 12.0-16.8%, sugars — 8.2-11.8%, acids — 0.3-0.9%, ascorbic acid — 3.0-11.4 mg/100g, P-active substances (catechins) — 45.4-129.0 mg/100g. Harvesting maturity occurs from late September.

Fruits do not drop before harvest.

Recommended pollinators: Prikuibansky, Aydored, Golden Delicacy, Florina. Recommended planting scheme on dwarf rootstocks — 5-4 x 2-1.5 m, on medium rootstocks — 6 x 4-3 m.

Tree quick to fruiting, enters fruiting on medium rootstock clones at 5 years. Yield increases rapidly from the first years of fruiting. Productivity of 12-year-old trees — 60-100 kg/tree. Fruiting periodicity is moderately expressed, especially in mature trees.

Winter hardiness is good. Under heavy fruit load in dry years, fruit mass decreases.

Advantages of the variety: good fruit commercial qualities, productivity, long storage life, intensive cover coloration.

Disadvantages of the variety: fruiting periodicity, fruit mass reduction in drought.