Currant Primorsky Giant

Early maturing variety, obtained at the Far Eastern Experimental Station of VIR by pollinating the 'Likernaya' variety with pollen mixtures of 'Altayskaya Desertnaya', 'Nina', 'Yubileynaya', and 'Altayskaya No.35'. Developed by N.M. Bochkarnikova. Included in the State Register of Varieties Approved for Use in the Far East region in 1986.

Strong-growing, dense, semi-spreading bush. Growing shoots are strong, thick, green, glossy, glabrous, with anthocyanin-colored tips. Woody shoots are long, thick, with uniform thinning toward the tip, long internodes, light gray-brown, glabrous, glossy. Apical buds are often non-free, grouped with 2-3 smaller ones. Lateral buds are often arranged 2-3 per node, large, thick, ovate, with pointed tips, rose-purple, touching the shoot base but with angled tips, sometimes slightly asymmetrical. In the upper part of the shoot, buds are arranged parallel to the shoot. Bud scales are long, with barely noticeable 'noses'; leaf scars are wedge-shaped, short.

Leaf is five-lobed, large, dark green, leathery. Leaf blade is curved along the midrib, bent downward. Central lobe is larger than lateral lobes, elongated, with additional protrusions. Lateral lobes are often widely spaced, positioned at right angles to the central lobe. Lobe tips are pointed. Basal lobe veins are directed downward. Leaf bases are heart-shaped or deeply heart-shaped, leaf margins often converge near the petiole. Teeth are large, doubly serrated, pointed.

Berries are large and very large (1.5-2.8 g), single-fruit, round, black, with rough skin, arranged in long (9-13 berries), sparse clusters, do not shed upon ripening. Taste is tart, berries are for technical use. Chemical composition: dry matter — 14.0%, total sugars — 5.3%, titratable acidity — 3.6%, ascorbic acid — 136.0 mg/100g.

Cold-hardy, high-yielding, self-fertile, resistant to fungal diseases and pests.

Advantages of the variety: high yield and frost resistance, very large single-fruit berries, long clusters.

Disadvantages of the variety: mediocre berry flavor.