Currant Rusalka

Mid-early maturing variety, developed at the South-Ural Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing and Potato Growing by crossing the varieties 'Seyanets Golubki' and 'Bredtorp'. Author: V.S. Ilyin. Included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Ural region in 2004.

Medium-height, medium-density, moderately spreading bush. Growing shoots are of medium thickness, light-pink, curved, hairless. Buds of medium size, oval-rounded, light-brown, slightly hairy, solitary, sessile, leaf scar shape rounded.

Leaf five-lobed, large, with deep notches, dark green, shiny, leathery, wrinkled, blade concave along midveins, angled downward. Lobes are sharp, long, central lobe is broad, long, concave and slightly bent sideways, larger than lateral lobes with additional protrusions. Lateral lobes are widely spaced, angle between their midveins obtuse or straight. Basal lobes are well developed. Base of leaf has deep triangular or rounded notch. Teeth are medium and long, irregular, sharp, not curled. Petiole is long, medium thickness, hairless, light green with anthocyanin coloring on sun-exposed side.

Flowers medium-sized, cup-shaped, light-pink. Sepals medium length, wide, egg-shaped, pointed tip, yellow-green-white, slightly hairy, reflexed or spread. Inflorescences long or medium (5.5-6.5 cm), often double, medium density. Axis medium thickness, green, hairless, petiole long, thin, green.

Berries very large (2.3-7.5 g), round, relatively uniform, nearly black, thin-skinned, medium seed count, sweet flavor (5 points), dessert-type. Receptacle half-open, pedicel thin, long, green.

Cold-resistant, self-fertile, weakly affected by powdery mildew and anthracnose, high-yielding, average yield 6.0 t/ha, maximum 12.0 t/ha (1.5-3.0 kg/plant).

Advantages of the variety: good cold resistance and yield, very large berry size, dessert flavor, increased resistance to powdery mildew.

Disadvantages of the variety: medium resistance to septoria and bud mite.