Sweet cherry Cherry

Developed at the North Caucasus Regional Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (Krasnodar). Obtained by crossing Melitopolskaya Chornaya and French Chornaya varieties. Author: E.M. Alekhina. Under state variety trials since 1998.

Tree is vigorous, fast-growing, with a medium-dense spherical crown, moderate foliage. Buds of medium size, vegetative conical, generative oval, deviated from the shoot by 45°. Leaf egg-shaped (15 x 7 cm), above average size, green, without anthocyanin coloring, apex strongly pointed, base rounded, large serrated edges, doubly serrated. Leaf blade slightly curved, upper surface matte, lower surface hairy along veins. Petiole medium-sized, thick, with anthocyanin for half its length, glands arranged in pairs on the petiole, possibly one on the leaf, oval, weakly colored. Flowers arranged in clusters of 2-3, very large, dish-shaped, freely spaced, petals rounded, white, calyx cup-shaped, many stamens (up to 42), of different lengths, stigma medium length, located both above and below stamens.

Fruits large (average weight 8 g, maximum 10 g), broadly oval (2.3 x 2.6 x 2.2), medium-width, narrow, rounded, indented apex, covering color dark red, glossy, flesh medium density, juicy, light red, juice red. Peduncle long, thick. Stone broadly oval, large (0.5 g), easily separates from flesh. Stone broadly oval, medium size (0.5 g), easily separates from flesh.

Fruits are very attractive (attractiveness score 4.8 points), harmonious in taste (taste evaluation score 4.8 points). Contains 15.8% dry matter, 10.7% sugars, 0.9% acids, 8.5 mg/100g ascorbic acid, 57.6 mg/100g vitamin P, 154.0% anthocyanin. Fruits exhibit high marketability, dessert quality, suitable for various types of modern processing technologies.

Belongs to late-flowering and ripening varieties. Enters fruiting stage at age 5 years after planting. Main fruiting is concentrated on frequently spaced cluster branches (75%) and bases of one-year shoots. Self-sterile. Fruits regularly, except in abnormal years, yields 11 t/ha during full fruiting.

Shows sufficient cold hardiness during winter and resistance to late frosts. Relatively resistant to moniliosis and coccomyces. Moderately affected by cherry fly and aphids.

Advantages: large fruit size, high yield, relative resistance to major fungal diseases.

Disadvantages: large tree size.