Gooseberry Black Drop

Mid-early maturing variety, developed at Novosibirsk ZPyaOS by selection among inbred seedlings of the Leninets variety. Authors: V.N. Sorokopudov, A.E. Solovyeva, O.A. Sorokopudova. Under state variety testing since 2002.

Medium-height, spreading bush. Stems medium, gray-brown. Thorns only in the lower part, medium-sized, single, directed downward, light-colored.

Leaves medium, dark green, three- or sometimes five-lobed, with deep indentations. Leaf blade hairless, glossy, leathery, wrinkled, convex. Teeth blunt, long. Leaf base straight with a small notch. Petiole short.

Flowers medium, pale in color. Inflorescence one-, two-, or three-flowered.

Berries very large, pear-shaped, dark red, almost black. Skin medium thickness, no pubescence, dry detachment. Moderate seed content. Taste sour-sweet (4.2 points), without aroma. Peduncle long, green, thin. Receptacle closed. Chemical composition: total sugar content — up to 11.2%, titratable acidity — up to 1.1%, ascorbic acid — up to 57.7 mg/100 g.

Moderately cold-resistant; in 1999 at -43°C, freezing damage was 2.0 points. Resistant to septoria (1.0 point), unaffected by powdery mildew. Average yield 2.0, maximum — 3.0 kg/plant (9.9 t/ha).

Advantages of the variety: large berry size, resistance to powdery mildew.

Disadvantages of the variety: spreading bush.