Winter variety from the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Selection, obtained by sowing seeds from open pollination of the 'King' variety grafted onto Antonovka Red variety in 1961. First fruiting was recorded in 1968; the seedling was selected for elite status in 1975. Breeders: E. N. Sedov, N. G. Krasova, M. V. Mikhayeva. The variety was accepted for State Testing in 1984 and included in the State Register of Approved Selection Achievements in 1998.
Trees of medium growth vigor. Crown rounded, with slightly drooping branches. Bark on trunk and main branches is flaking, dark gray. Predominant fruiting types — rings and fruiting spurs.
Shoots are slender, curved, dark brown, hairy. Leaves medium-sized, elongated, egg-shaped, bluntly pointed, dark green, wrinkled, matte, with delicate venation. Leaf margin finely toothed, wavy. Petiole hairy, red at base.
Flowers large, buds rose-colored, petals pale rose, elongated, tightly closed or overlapping, stigma lower than stamens, very short pedicel.
Fruits (see photo) medium-sized, round, without ribs, well-formed. Cover color on most of the fruit surface is in the form of stripes and diffuse purplish blush. Fruit skin dense, smooth, oily, shiny. Pedicel short, erect, upright. Calyx deep, conical. Receptacle small, narrow, grooved. Core large, chambers closed.
Flesh white, medium density, slightly tart-sweet flavor. Fruit appearance rating: 4.4 points. Taste rating: 4.1–4.3 points. Fruit contains: 9.4% sugars, 0.38% titratable acids, ascorbic acid — 11.8 mg/100g, sum of P-active substances — 114 mg/100g, pectin substances — 12.5%.
Harvesting maturity occurs mid-late September; fruits can be stored until end of March.
Fruits hold firmly on the tree and are transportable.
Fruits are characterized by relatively high marketability. In average over 1981–1983 years, in the orchard of VNIISPK’s Experimental Station, 68% of Kulikovskoe fruits were rated as top or first grade, compared to only 15% for the control variety 'Pepin Shafranny'.
Characterized by rapid fruiting and high annual yield.
Trees planted in 1974, on average over 1982–1987 years, produced 272 centners per hectare, whereas the control variety 'Pepin Shafranny' yielded only 214 centners per hectare. The variety is relatively winter-hardy and fairly resistant to scab. Even during years of most severe disease spread, leaves were affected by scab only to 1.4 points, fruits — to 0.6 points.
Advantages of the variety: high early fruiting, high annual yield, resistance to scab, long storage life of fruits.
Disadvantages of the variety: fruit size reduction under tree overloading and lack of pruning.
