Apricot Serafim

This variety was obtained by G.T. Kazymin at DalNIISKh from pollination of the 'Best Michurin' variety with pollen mixtures of 'Krasnochekoy', 'Early Alexander', and 'Ovrenskoy Fast-Maturing' varieties. Accepted for state testing in 1980.

Medium-growing tree, semi-extended crown, irregular shape. Bark peeling with cracks. Main branches branch off at an angle of 45-69 degrees. Bark of multi-year branches is gray-brown with numerous round lenticels. One-year branches of medium length with short internodes are burgundy-red. Flower buds are small, formed on current year's growth, arranged in groups of three (two fruiting and one vegetative). Leaves are medium-sized, oval-elongated. Leaf blade is dark green above and light green below. Strongly leafy. Flower is medium-sized, white with slight pinkish hue. Petals are loosely closed, round in shape. Stigma is higher than stamens. Variety is self-sterile.

Fruits are round, unequal-sided, slightly flat. Average weight 28.6 g, maximum 35.0 g. Apex is flat with a small beak. Base is indented. Pit is wide and shallow. Skin is heavily hairy, peels poorly from flesh. Main color is yellow, almost cream, with a covering orange or orange-red hue on the sun-exposed side. From the peduncle, the color is intensely blurred into spots and brown dots covering half or a third of the fruit. Flesh is creamy, does not change color in air, cavity color matches the flesh. Flesh consistency is tender, slightly powdery, medium density. Flavor is slightly sour-sweet, quite pleasant, aroma is medium. Fruits contain 14% sugar and 3% malic acid. Used for making juices, jams, jellies, preserves, compotes. Sensory evaluation of fresh fruit is 3.5 points. Pit is oval, dorsal suture is convex and blunt, ventral suture is pointed, ribs are pronounced. Pit surface is porous. Kernel is sweet. Average weight 1.7 g.

Trees begin fruiting in the second to third year of life, commercial yield is produced in the fourth to fifth year. Flowering occurs from May 18-25. Fruits ripen from July 15-20. Average yield is 33 kg of fruit per tree. Transportability is weak. Winter hardiness and resistance to sunburns are satisfactory. Trees are moderately damaged by pests and diseases.

Advantages of the variety: produces marketable fruits with good taste, attractive appearance, early fruit ripening, and high yield.

Disadvantages: in wet years, resistance to sunburns, diseases, and pests decreases, fruits become smaller and crack.