Currant Valentinovka

Late-maturing variety, developed at the VNIIS of Fruit Crop Selection from a cross between varieties Rotte Schpeltzze and Jonker van Tets. Author L.V. Bayanova. Included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Central Chernozem region in 2001.

Plant is tall, upright, densely branched. Growing shoots are thick with a slight pinkish 'tan'. Buds are large, pressed against the shoot, sit on long, broad stems. Leaf petiole scar is broad and semicircular.

Leaf is three- to five-lobed, large, gray-green, medium-creased, leathery, heavily hairy underneath. Leaf blade at the top of the shoot is folded like a funnel, angled 45° to the shoot; in the middle of the shoot, the blade is flat or slightly folded along main veins. Central lobe is much larger than lateral lobes, elongated. Upper sides of lateral lobes lie on a straight line. Angle between main veins of lateral lobes is acute or nearly right. Basal lobes are weakly developed. Leaf base is heart-shaped with a small notch. Teeth are large, blunt, with distinct 'claws'. Leaf petioles are long, thick, with anthocyanin coloration.

Flowers are small, bell-shaped, without a calyx, green receptacle. Sepals have bright cherry-colored stripes, not fused; petals are small. Stigmas are higher than stamens. Flowering racemes have a slight brownish 'tan', slightly zigzagged, thick. Flowering racemes are long (over 10.0 cm), dense, hanging, with long, thick petioles. Petioles are green and hairy.

Berries are medium-sized (0.5 g), red, round, single-ribbed, sour, with high gelling properties, for technical use. Seeds are large. Berry detachment is dry. Raceme has evenly spaced berries. Calyx is irregularly pentagonal; pedicel is short, slightly curved. Chemical composition of berries: dry matter — 9.6%, total sugars — 6.5%, titratable acidity — 2.3%, ascorbic acid — 48.6%, P-active substances — 351.0 mg/100 g, pectin substances — 10.7%.

Variety is winter-hardy, high-yielding (up to 2.0 t/ha or 3.3 kg/plant under 0.5 x 2.8 m spacing), characterized by high self-fertility and resistance to powdery mildew.

Advantages of the variety: high yield and resistance to powdery mildew, high pectin content and quality of processed products (jelly).

Disadvantages of the variety: average berry flavor.