Sort of folk selection, selected by M. G. Kravchenko in the city of Minusinsk among seedlings from free pollination of an unknown variety, approximately, in 1910. It was zoned since 1947 throughout the East Siberian region. Was widespread in the gardens of the population. Absent in new plantings.
Trees are medium-sized with an ovate crown, moderately dense. Fruiting is concentrated on spurs and fruit twigs.
Shoots are densely pubescent. Leaves are almost round or broadly ovate, with a small pointed tip bent to the side, serrated edges, gray-green, pubescent on the underside. Petioles are thin, of medium length, with long lanceolate stipules.
Fruits are exceptionally small (12.0 g) in flat-round shape. The main color is yellow, the covering one — dark red, blurred over the entire fruit. Skin has an intense bluish bloom. Pedicel is of medium length, pubescent. Calyx is large, half-open, with wide, hairy sepals.
Pulp is creamy, sometimes with red streaks, sour-sweet with bitterness, of mediocre taste. Chemical composition of fruits: total sugars — 13.3% (11.5–15.0), titratable acids — 2.0% (1.97–2.12), tannins — 309 mg/100 g, ascorbic acid — 48.2 mg/100g (27.0–68.2), P-active compounds — 659 mg/100g (640–678).
Gathering maturity of fruits is the end of August-beginning of September, keeping quality up to 40 days.
Yields are average. Fruiting is irregular. High winter hardiness, in harsh winters trees suffer slight frost damage. Drought resistant. Sensitive to scab.
Merits of the variety: high winter hardiness and drought resistance.
Drawbacks of the variety: exceptionally small fruits with mediocre taste, sensitive to scab.
The variety was used in breeding; the cultivar Dr. Kunovsky with a high pectin content was bred at NIIISS (Research Institute of Fruit Growing) using it as one of its parents.
