Sweet cherry Demetra

Variety selected by the North Caucasus Regional Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (Krasnodar). Obtained by crossing the varieties Drogana yellow and Dayer black. Accepted for state variety testing in the North Caucasus region since 2001. Author E.M. Alexina.

Tree with intensive growth, taller than average, crown broadly round, raised, dense, medium leafiness. Shoots with silvery bloom. Buds medium-sized, vegetative conical, generative oval, slightly deviated from the shoot. Leaves above average size (maximum size 21.0 x 8.2), oval, dark green, yellowish in autumn with anthocyanin presence, apex long-pointed, base acute, margin finely doubly serrated, upper surface glossy, slightly curved, lower surface with slight pubescence. Petiole medium length and thickness, strongly colored, glands arranged on petiole in pairs, intensely colored. Flowers arranged in clusters of 2-4, medium size, flat, petals inversely egg-shaped, loosely arranged, white, calyx slightly anthocyanin-colored, narrow-ribbed, calyx lobes long, without serrations, stamens short and long, stigma long, positioned above and below anthers. Fruits borne on cluster branches and base of last year’s growth.

Fruits attractive, above average size (7.5 g), broadly round (2.0 x 2.1 x 1.9), medium depression, apex rounded, no depression, covering color dark red, flesh dense, intense dark red, juice dark red. Peduncle medium length and thickness, easily detaches from fruit, dry detachment. Sensory evaluation of fruits 4.5 points. Contains 11.5% dry matter, 8.7% sugars, 0.7% acids, 6.4 mg/100g ascorbic acid. Main use is dessert, suitable for processing.

Variety belongs to medium flowering and medium-early ripening period. Enters fruiting stage at age 5 years. Self-incompatible. Average yield during full fruiting period is 11.0 t/ha. Shows sufficient resistance to low winter and spring temperatures. Relatively resistant to fungal diseases.

Advantages: high taste and market quality of fruits, early ripening.

Disadvantages: large tree size.