Currant Viksne (Red Viksne, Cherry Viksne)

Early maturing variety, obtained from sowing seeds of the Smorodina Varshевич on the experimental station of Ogrskaya Fruit and Vegetable Experimental Station (Latvia). Authors: A.B. Viksnе, T.S. Zvyagina. Since 1997, included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Northwestern and Central Chernozem regions.

Bush is vigorous, medium-spreading, irregularly shaped. Shoots are thick, straight, dark-brown with dense gray coating, glabrous. Buds are small, elongated, dark-brown with gray coating, sessile, slightly deviated from the shoot. Petiole scar is round.

Leaf is five-lobed, large and medium-sized, dark green, matte, smooth, straight. Blade is glabrous above, hairy below, horizontally oriented. Leaf margin is wavy. Lobes are pointed, central lobe exceeds lateral ones. Angle between central veins of lateral lobes is obtuse, lateral lobes are widely spaced. Basal lobes are moderately developed. Leaf base is straight with small notch. Teeth are obtuse, medium-sized, not curled, serrated type. Petiole is medium length and thickness, weakly hairy along entire petiole.

Flowers are medium-sized, deep bowl-shaped. Sepals are pale, with purplish stripes, free. Inflorescences are long (10.4–15.0 cm), cylindrical, dense. Axis is medium, straight, petiole is long, non-bending.

Berries are medium-sized (0.7–0.8 g), round, cherry-colored. Seeds are few, egg-shaped, large. Flavor is sour-sweet, tender, refreshing, rated 4.5 points, berries are of universal use. Receptacle is round, medium-sized, closed. Pedicels are long and medium, thin, light-green.

Chemical composition: soluble dry matter — 14.2%, total sugars — 6.6%, titratable acidity — 1.9%, ascorbic acid — 53.2 mg/100 g, P-active substances — 1091.0 mg/100 g, pectin substances — 2.4%.

Winter-hardy variety, moderate drought resistance, high-yielding, average multi-year yield is 16.7 t/ha (5.0 kg/plant), relatively resistant to anthracnose.

Advantages of berries: high productivity, large, high-quality berries, especially valuable for processing.

Disadvantages of the variety: susceptibility to red gall aphid.