Currant Mila

Late-maturing variety, developed at the Siberian Institute of Horticulture named after M.A. Lisavenko by crossing the varieties Dikovinka and Bredtorp. Authors: Z.S. Zotova, I.P. Kalinina, N.I. Nazaryuk, M.A. Pershina, I.L. Teslya. Included in the State Register of Varieties approved for use in Western and Eastern Siberia since 2001.

Medium-height, spreading bush with moderate density and good branching ability. Growing shoots are medium-thick, curved, hairless, green, shoot tips light-purple, woody parts light-brown. Buds are single, elongated, medium-sized, pointed, golden-brown, hairless, pressed, terminal — free.

Leaf is five-lobed, large and medium-sized, light-green, matte, hairless, wrinkled, tender, blade flat or slightly concave. Apex of the central lobe is sharp. Side lobes are sharp, directed towards the leaf apex. Angle between the main veins of the side lobes is right. Basal lobes are well developed, veins spread out. Base of leaf has a small, widely open notch. Teeth are long, sharp with clearly defined 'tip'. Petiole is medium-length and thickness, green, slightly colored at edges, angled at 45° to the shoot.

Flowers are medium-sized, cup-shaped, sepals light-pink, not fused, curled back. Stigma is at the level of stamens. Inflorescences are medium-length, up to 6.4 cm, loose, hanging. Axis is thick, green, curved.

Berries are very large (2.1-4.5 g), round, black, glossy, ripen simultaneously, with medium seed count, medium skin density, dry detachment, good transportability. Peduncle is medium, green, calyx closed, small. Taste is sour-sweet. Berries are versatile in use. Chemical composition: dry soluble substances — 8.5-15.9%, total sugars — 4.8-11.5%, titratable acidity — 0.8-3.8%, ascorbic acid — 118.7 mg/100 g, pectic substances (on fresh weight) — 2.1-2.3%.

The variety is winter-hardy, drought-tolerant, self-fertile, early-bearing, high resistance to powdery mildew (0.2 points), anthracnose and septoria (mild infection — 2.0 points), bud mite (mild damage — 1.0 point), average yield 11.5 t/ha (3.5 kg/plant), maximum — 13.3 t/ha.

Advantages of the variety: high yield, resistance to powdery mildew, large berry size, self-fertility.

Disadvantages of the variety: spreading bush, susceptible to anthracnose and septoria.