Sweet cherry Rondo

Introduced by T.V. Morozov from the Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin from seed of the cherry variety 'Leningradskaya Yellow,' treated with a chemical mutagen at the germination stage. Under state variety trials since 1995.

Medium-sized tree, fast-growing, with a medium-density, broad-pyramidal crown. Bark on the trunk and main branches is brown, flaking. Shoots are medium, straight, bare, olive-yellow, with a small amount of fine hairs. Buds are egg-shaped, medium size, almost pressed against the shoots. Leaves are below average size, narrowly oval, doubly serrated, smooth texture, light green with gloss, non-hairy. Leaf petioles are medium length, thin, with anthocyanic coloring at the base; 1-2 yellow glands are present on the petiole. Absence of stipules. Flowers are large, white, rose-shaped. Petal shape is rounded. Flowering period is early. Stigma is positioned higher relative to stamens. Fruiting occurs predominantly on flower clusters of various ages and partially on one-year shoots.

Fruits are medium-sized (mass 4.7 g), round-heart-shaped with a rounded apex, medium indentation at the base, and barely noticeable ventral seam. Fruits are golden-yellow with light-yellow flesh. No lenticels. Pit is small, round, smooth, easily separates from the flesh. Flesh is light-yellow, soft, tender, very juicy. Taste is sweet. Fruit stalks are medium length and thickness, easily detach from the branch. Chemical composition of fruits: sugars — 11.97%, acids — 0.29%; ascorbic acid — 8.23 mg/100g. Table variety.

Fruit maturation is early. Harvesting ripeness occurs in the third decade of June. Not suitable for transportation.

Beginning of fruiting at 4-5 years. Regular yield, 80-100 centners/ha. Self-sterile. Possible pollinators: 'Pink Pearl', 'Michurinka'. Highly winter-hardy, drought-resistant, highly resistant to moniliosis. Propagated by budding onto seedlings of cultivated cherry varieties and clonal rootstocks of Vladimirskaya.

Advantages of the variety: winter hardiness of the tree and flower buds, early ripening of sweet fruits.

Disadvantages: unsuitability for transportation due to fruit fragility.