Currant Hope

Early-ripening variety, developed at VSTISP by crossing 'Varshевич' blackcurrant and dark-purple blackcurrant (form 312-209). Breeders: A.S. Ravkin, L.D. Isaikina, E.K. Sashko. Under state variety testing since 2006.

Medium-height, compact, dense bush. Non-woody shoots of medium thickness, straight, green with reddish tips, without hairs. Woody shoots of medium thickness, light-brown. Buds single, elongated with pointed tips, medium-sized, gray-brown, without hairs, angled away from shoots. Apical bud not free. Leaf scars arcuate.

Leaf five-lobed, large, green, without hairs, herbaceous, leaf blade slightly concave along main veins. Leaf margin teeth blunt, medium-sized, tooth tips without distinct 'tips'. Central lobe longer than lateral ones, broad with additional protrusions. Lateral lobes short, broad, angle between lateral lobe veins is right angle. Basal lobes poorly developed. Base with shallow rounded notch. Petiole medium length and thickness, without hairs, reddish.

Flowers medium-sized, cup-shaped, burgundy, yellowish calyx tube. Sepals yellowish, reflexed, free. Inflorescences medium-sized (7-8 cm with petiole), dense. Axis medium-sized, without hairs, petiole medium-sized.

Berries medium-sized (average mass 0.7 g, maximum 1.0 g), round, red at maturity, then turn dark-purple, dry detachable. Few small seeds. Sweet-sour flavor, rating 4.0. Berries for general use. Calyx medium-sized, half-open, does not fall off. Pedicel short, green, without hairs. Chemical composition: total sugars — 4.2%, titratable acidity — 2.6%, ascorbic acid — 30.6 mg/100 g.

Self-fertile, yield 16.2 t/ha (6.5 kg/plant), winter-hardy, resistant to diseases and pests.

Advantages of the variety: very early ripening (annually June 20-25), high yield.

Disadvantages of the variety: berry flavor with predominance of acidity.