Currant Velyur

Medium-ripening variety, obtained at Buryat PIAOS (now Buryat NIISS) from crossing of the forms (Nadezhda x Primorsky Champion) with the variety Bredtorp. Authors: T.I. Voronina, G.S. Smolina, E.G. Sokratova. Included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the East Siberian region in 1997.

Medium-height, medium-spreading bush. Shoots are medium, straight, light-brown at the base, light-green at the tips, slightly hairy.

Five-lobed leaf, medium-sized, dark green. Leaf blade slightly hairy underneath, matte, leathery, wrinkled, convex along veins. Central lobe elongated, pointed, strongly curled; basal lobes asymmetrical. Teeth blunt and sharp, short with white "tips", curled. Leaf base with deep notch. Leaf petiole light-pink.

Flowers medium-sized, pale-pink, bell-shaped. Stamens at the level of the pistil. Fruit cluster medium length (4-5 cm), often double. Cluster axis thick, straight, heavily hairy.

Berries large (1.1-1.5 g), round with flattened base, black, brownish at the pedicel attachment, with shallow cross-shaped grooves radiating from the attachment point. Skin thin, shiny, with whitish dotted glands, slight shedding, dry detachment. Pedicel medium, green. Calyx medium, closed. Flavor tart-sweet, delicate, aromatic (4.8 points). Berries versatile in use. Chemical composition: soluble dry matter — 11.7-13.8%, total sugars — 9.2-10.8%, titratable acidity — 1.92.0%, ascorbic acid — 98.7-167.0 mg/100 g, P-active compounds — 167.0-360.0 mg/100 g, soluble pectin — 0.5%.

High-yielding variety, average yield 5.9 t/ha, maximum 9.7 t/ha at 4-6 years of age under planting scheme 3.0 x 1.5 m, self-fertile (44%). Best pollinators: Primorsky Champion, Selenга, Zabaykalochka, Gor-hon. High winter hardiness, medium resistance to powdery mildew and bud mite.

Advantages of the variety: high yield, winter hardiness, self-fertility, high berry flavor qualities.

Disadvantages of the variety: berries split upon overripening, weak drought resistance.