Currant Black Pearl

Medium-ripening variety, obtained at the VNIIS named after I.V. Michurin by crossing the varieties Minay Shmyrev and Brodtorp. Breeders: K.D. Sergeeva and T.V. Zvyagina. Included in the State Register of Varieties Approved for Use in the Central Chernozem, North Caucasus, Middle Volga, Ural, West Siberian, and East Siberian regions in 1992.

Medium-height, spreading bush. Growing shoots are medium, curved, green, hairless, shiny. Woody shoots are medium, bent, grayish in color with a yellowish tint along their entire length, shiny. Buds are medium-sized, elongated, pinkish, sit on short stems, deviate from the shoots, solitary, leaf scar shape is rounded-oval.

Leaf five-lobed, medium-sized, green and light-green, blade bare, matte, smooth, wavy, positioned vertically downward on the shoot, margin curled downward. Lobes are pointed, the central lobe is longer than the lateral ones, sometimes with additional protrusions. Lateral lobes are widely spaced, the angle between their midribs is straight. Basal lobes are well developed. Leaf base is heart-shaped with a central notch. Marginal teeth are large, serrated and doubly serrated, with a clearly defined white "tip". Petiole is long, thick, partially anthocyanin-colored.

Flowers are medium, cup-shaped, sepals reddish, free, curved in an arch. Inflorescences are medium and long (5.0-7.5 cm), conical in shape, solitary, central axis straight, hairless. Petiole short, non-breakable.

Berries are medium to large (1.3-1.4 g), round, one-dimensional, black, with a weak gloss, with a moderate number of large seeds, dry detachment, sour-sweet flavor (4.2 points), universal use. Receptacle is round, medium-sized, closed. Chemical composition: soluble dry matter — 17.7%, total sugars — 9.3%, titratable acidity — 3.6%, ascorbic acid — 133.3 mg/100 g, P-active substances — 1226.0 mg/100 g, pectin — 1.6%.

Highly winter-hardy, early-bearing variety, moderately resistant to powdery mildew, relatively resistant to anthracnose, suitable for mechanized harvest, average yield 8.7 t/ha (2.6 kg/plant).

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness, stable fruiting, large berry size, high commercial quality, and good berry transportability.

Disadvantages of the variety: moderate resistance to powdery mildew.