Michurin's Memory

Late-winter variety, developed at the VNIIS named after I.V. Michurin, from seeds of the 'Shampanren-chai' variety obtained through open pollination. Author: S.I. Isaev. Approved for cultivation in the Central Chernozem and Lower Volga regions. Widely grown in commercial and hobby orchards of the Central Chernozem and Lower Volga areas. Rarely found in new plantings.

Moderate growth tree with rounded or flat-rounded, spreading, somewhat sparse, slightly drooping crown. Bark on the trunk and main branches is brown or dark brown. Fruit production is mainly on fruiting spurs.

Numerous, straight shoots with brown bark, hairy, of medium length and thickness, with few medium-sized lenticels. Leaves of medium size, inversely egg-shaped, short-pointed, finely toothed, with flat or slightly concave blades, with medium-length petioles, densely hairy on the underside. Stipules are small.

Flowers are very large, pinkish-white, with stigmas equal in length to the anthers.

Fruits of medium size (average weight 140 g), roundish or round-conical, unevenly shaped, broad-ribbed. Main skin color is greenish-yellow or golden; the covering color, which occupies most of the fruit, is bright red, blurred, with dark red stripes and streaks. Peduncle of medium length and thickness, sometimes short. Calyx is deep and wide. Dish is of medium depth and width, ribbed. Calyx is closed, and the subcalyx tube is small, narrow, funnel-shaped with high attachment of stamens. Seed cavity is medium-sized, roundish, with large, closed seed chambers. Seeds are of medium size, egg-shaped, pointed, dark brown.

Flesh is white or cream-colored, fine-grained, tender, juicy, of medium density, aromatic. Taste is slightly tart-sweet, refreshing, dessert-like, skin is firm with slight waxy coating. The fruit contains: 15.4% dry matter, 10.0% sugars, 0.54% titratable acids, 5 mg/100g ascorbic acid.

Harvesting begins at the end of September.

Fruits are firmly attached to the tree. Transportability is high, fruits have good commercial appearance. Suitable for various types of technical processing (dried fruits, juices, jams, etc.). Shelf life in fresh form begins at the end of October and ends at the end of May in Central Russia, and in Volgograd — at the end of January.

Trees begin fruiting on the 5th-6th year after planting in the orchard, with medium yield (50-80 kg per tree), prone to alternate bearing. Cold hardiness is comparable to that of 'Pepin Shafran' variety. The variety is drought-tolerant, well-adapted to conditions of the Lower Volga region; resistance to powdery mildew is moderate, to scab — high. Fruits and leaves are not affected by scab even in wet years.

Advantages of the variety: early fruiting and high resistance to scab, moderate tree growth, long shelf life of fruits in fresh form.

Disadvantages of the variety: low cold hardiness, wide crown with hanging branches.