Apple Winter saffron

This winter variety was obtained at the Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia named after M. A. Lisavensky by crossing the Altai variety with Siberian wild and Siberian beauty (pollen mixture) in 1959. Breeders: I. P. Kalinina, T. F. Kornienko, Z. A. Granikina, E. S. Orekhova. Approved in 1994 for the West Siberian and East Siberian regions. Widely grown in private gardens of the Altai region.

Trees are medium-sized with round crowns. Main branches extend from the trunk at an angle close to straight, directed upward. Most of the fruit is located on the ring branches.

Shoots are slender, curved, brownish, hairy. Leaves are medium-sized, round, slightly pointed, dark green, wrinkled, shiny, hairy on the underside. Leaf margin is serrated and wavy. Petiole is medium-length, hairy, with lanceolate stipules of medium length.

Fruits (see photo) are small (41-59 g), round, slightly ribbed, very attractive. Main color is yellow, covering color is red, blurred and striped, mostly on the fruit surface. Skin has clearly visible light subcutaneous spots. Pedicel is short and thin, calyx is medium-sized, slightly rusty. Receptacle is wide and ribbed. Calyx is large and closed. Subcalyx tube is medium-sized, funnel-shaped. Seed chambers are closed, central cavity is narrow.

Flesh is creamy, finely textured, juicy, slightly acidic-sweet, good taste. Chemical composition of fruits: total sugars — 12.3% (10.1-13.5), titratable acids — 1.16% (0.96-1.44), pectin substances — 5.46% on dry weight, tannins — 147 mg/100g (116-244), ascorbic acid — 24.2 mg/100g (14.8-39.0), P-active compounds — 182 mg/100g (127-299).

Fruits ripen in the first decade of September and can be stored up to 150 days. This is a universal variety. Valued for all types of private and collective farms, and for breeding due to its long storage period and good taste of fruits.

Fruit production begins on the fifth year. Average yield, regular fruiting. Winter hardiness is moderate, in exceptionally severe winters it freezes moderately. Highly resistant to scab.

Advantages of the variety: long storage life of fruits, good taste, high resistance to scab.

Disadvantages of the variety: susceptible to freezing in exceptionally severe winters.