Currant Zusha

Medium-ripening variety, obtained at the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Selection from crossing the varieties Ershistaya and Minay Shmyrev. Authors: T.P. Ogoltsova, S.D. Knyazev, L.V. Bayanova. Included in the State Register of Varieties Approved for Use in the Central Chernozem Region in 2001.

Strong-growing, weakly spreading, medium-density bush. Growing shoots are unpubescent, strong, straight, green with colored tips, glossy. Woody stems are thick, gray-brown with light-yellow tips, glossy. Buds are medium or large, purplish-red, ovate with pointed tips, slightly asymmetrical and curved. Apical bud is either non-free or free, large, leaf scar shape is round or rounded-triangular.

Five-lobed leaf, medium size, intensely green, glossy, slightly fringed, wrinkled. Grooves between lobes are small, wide, obtuse. Central lobe is significantly longer than lateral ones, broadly triangular with slightly pointed tip, slightly folded along central vein with additional protrusions. Lateral lobes are short, obtuse, angle between their veins is straight or acute. Upper sides of lateral lobes are arranged along a straight line, lower sides are strongly angled. Basal lobes are weakly expressed, veins are spread out. Leaf base has a wide, open notch. Teeth are small, sharp, serrated, slightly curled at edges, petiole pubescent, anthocyanin-colored.

Flowers are medium-sized, cup-shaped, sepals are white-pink, free, curved upward. Inflorescences are medium (5.5-7.8 cm), with dense berry arrangement, central axis, curved, unpubescent.

Berries are large (1.2 g), round, black, with thin skin, medium seed count. Receptacle is round, medium, closed, pedicel is short, thin, green. Taste is sour-sweet (4.4 points), with aroma. Berries are versatile. Chemical composition: soluble solids — 12.8%, sugar sum — 8.7%, titratable acidity — 3.0%, ascorbic acid — 171.1 mg/100 g, anthocyanins — 205.1 mg/100 g, leucoanthocyanins — 214.9 mg/100 g, catechins — 309.1 mg/100 g, total P-active substances — 729.1 mg/100 g.

Winter-hardy, early-bearing, self-fertile (57%), resistant to powdery mildew, anthracnose, and septoria, moderately affected by bud mite, suitable for mechanized harvesting, average yield 9.7 t/ha (1.3 kg/plant).

Advantages of the variety: high stable yield, berries located in optimal zone for mechanized harvesting, upright growth, disease resistance.

Disadvantages of the variety: susceptible to bud mite and double-flowering.