Apple Rtishchevskaya Krasavitsa

Autumn variety developed by Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov and Saratov Experimental Fruit Farm. Obtained by crossing varieties 'Kandil-Chin' and 'Renet Volzhsky'. Breeders: G.V. Kondratyeva and I.K. Fomina.

Since 1995, the variety has been accepted for state variety testing in the Volga region and central part of Russia for its high winter hardiness, yield, early fruiting, large fruit size, and resistance to fungal diseases. It is widely grown in specialized farms of Saratov Oblast and private gardens.

The tree is small with a compact, round, well-leafed crown. Bark on the trunk and main branches is smooth, yellowish-brown. Fruit set type is mixed (fruiting occurs on spurs, branches, fruiting twigs, and tips of one-year shoots).

Shoots are arching, round, medium thickness, brown with small fine lenticels. Buds are medium-sized, pressed, hairy. Leaves are elongated-oval, long-pointed, green, with a downward-curving blade, serrated-margined, with a medium-length and thickness hairy petiole.

Flowers are medium-sized, small cup-shaped, petals rose-colored, oval, stamens medium-sized.

Fruits are above-average and large (mass 160-200 g, maximum 250 g), wide-conical in shape. Fruit skin is smooth, at harvest time the main color is greenish, the covering color is dark red stripes on a marbled background; at consumer ripeness, the main color is yellow, the covering color is dark red stripes. Skin dots are small, white, without halo. Peduncle is curved, medium length and thickness. Calyx is medium. Receptacle is non-detaching, open, deep dish-shaped.

Flesh is creamy, juicy, aromatic. Pleasant balance of acidity and sugar (taste score — 4.5 points).

High and annual yield. Begins fruiting on the 4th-5th year after planting.

Trees are winter-hardy; after unfavorable winters of 1978/79 and 1988/89 (minimum temperature -35°C), practically no freezing damage occurred, drought resistance is high. Rtishchevskaya Krasavitsa is resistant to fungal diseases. No disease incidence was observed in epiphytotic years for scab and powdery mildew.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness, resistance to scab and powdery mildew, early fruiting, fruit quality and taste.