Sweet cherry Dolores

Variety from the Dagestan Experimental Station, obtained by crossing the black cherry variety Napoleon with the plum variety Lyubskaya. Authors: A.S. Pokrovskaya, F.-X.G. Kasumova. Under state variety testing since 1998.

Medium-sized tree — 3.5-4 m tall, with a wide, densely foliated crown. One-year-old shoots are short, relatively thick, greenish in color. Generative and vegetative buds are of medium size, positioned at an angle to the shoot. Generative buds are elongated-oval, vegetative buds are elongated-pointed. Leaves are medium-sized, elongated-oval in shape, upper part elongated, lower part rounded. Leaf size 10.5-4.5 cm, leaf margin strongly serrated. Light green color. Upper and lower leaf surfaces are smooth. Leaf slightly curved. At the base of the leaf on the petiole, two large purple glands are symmetrically located. Petiole relatively short — 2.3-2.8 cm, medium thickness — 0.2 mm, greenish-brown in color. Flowers relatively large, white with a pinkish tint, petals rounded, moderately concave. Inflorescence — umbel, consists of 2-4 flowers. Flower corolla shape is circular, petal arrangement — alternate. Surface of the stigma and stamen is spherical, with the stamen protruding above (stamen length 5-6 mm, stigma length 7-8 mm). Calyx shape is spherical, calyx lobe edges smooth. Flowering and fruiting occur at the base of one-year-old shoots or on cluster branches.

Fruits are round, with slightly pronounced shoulders (21 x 22 x 19). The ventral groove is barely noticeable. Fruit pit is small but deep. Fruit weight 6.2 g, dark purple in color, nearly black upon full ripening. Speckles exude from beneath the skin. Skin medium density. Flesh tender, juicy. Flesh and juice are purple in color. Flavor sour-sweet (cherry x plum). Sensory evaluation of fresh fruits — 5.0 points. Fruits contain 16.0% dry matter, 10.9% sugars, 1.74% acids, 6.38 mg/100g ascorbic acid. Fruit shelf life 5-6 days. Transportability good. Fruits have an attractive appearance and high flavor quality, suitable for universal use. Pedicel short — 34 cm (thickness 0.2 cm), medium attachment to the fruit. Fruit detachment from the pedicel is dry, variety suitable for mechanical harvesting. Stone is round, with pronounced grooves, smooth, oval in shape, upper part slightly concave inward, base slightly elongated. Stone mass 0.32 g, which is 5.2% of the total fruit mass. Ventral groove of medium width. Stone is small, easily separates from the flesh. Fruit cracking index in rainy weather is 17.4%. Purpose of the variety — universal. After processing, high-quality compote and jam are obtained.

Mid-late ripening variety. Enters fruiting on the 4th-5th year after planting in the orchard. Flowering period April 21 — May 2, ripening June 10-19. Fruits ripen simultaneously. Yield is 24.0 kg per tree or 80.0 centners/ha. Partially self-fertile.

Frost-resistant in winter. Generative bud hardiness is 94%. Flower bud hardiness to spring frosts is above average. From fungal diseases, moniliosis is noted — 1.0%. Variety is relatively drought-resistant, but prolonged summer droughts may negatively affect tree condition, potentially causing wilting and suppression.

Suitable for intensive orchards. Does not require special pruning, only sanitary pruning; responsive to watering and fertilizer application.