Black Sea

Medium-late maturing variety, obtained at the VNIIS (All-Union Institute of Horticulture) named after I.V. Michurin by pollinating seedlings 21-52 cm tall with pollen mix of varieties Finik, Green Bottle, Brazilian, and Maure's Seedling. Developed by K.D. Sergeeva. Since 1994, it has been included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Central Region.

The bush is vigorous, slightly spreading, with a dense crown, medium branching, and vertical branch direction. Growing shoots are medium length, straight or with a drooping tip, light green with anthocyanic coloring at the top, glabrous. Woody shoots are medium length and light-colored. Shoot spinescence is weak. Spines are sparse, single, short or medium-length, thin, straight or slightly curved, matte, dark-colored, directed downward and located in the lower third of the shoot. Thorns are absent. Buds are elongated, medium-sized, with a pointed apex, light-colored, glabrous, and slightly curved. Leaf scar is round.

Leaves are medium-sized, dark green, shiny, glabrous, smooth or slightly wrinkled, medium density, convex. Teeth are short, blunt, and curled. Main vein coloration is absent. Leaf is three- to five-lobed, with deep indentations, central lobe with a pointed apex, longer than lateral lobes, lateral edges cut straight to the base. Lateral lobes are medium length, rounded, angle between lateral lobe veins is acute. Basal lobes are poorly developed, with widely spread veins. Leaf base is straight or with a small notch, angle between leaf blade base and petiole is usually straight. Petiole is medium length and thickness, with sparse glandular hairs at the lower part, positioned at 30° angle to the shoot.

Flowers are medium-sized, elongated, brightly colored. Sepals are elongated, brightly colored, free, curled upward. Inflorescence is single- or two-flowered, occasionally three-flowered. Ovule is weakly hairy with anthocyanic coloration.

Berries are medium-sized (3.0 g), oval, dark red, turning black upon full ripening, glabrous or with barely noticeable hairs and waxy coating. Seed count is medium. Skin is strong, medium thickness, with weak venation, veins slightly branched, lighter than main color, nearly invisible upon full ripening. Flavor is balanced tart-sweet (4.3 points). Receptacle is large and elongated, full, closed. Pedicel is long, thin, with anthocyanic tint at the base. Chemical composition: total sugar — 8.4–12.2%, titratable acidity — 1.7–2.5%, ascorbic acid — 29.3 mg/100 g. Berries are versatile in use.

The variety is highly winter-hardy, drought-tolerant, average yield 10.3–13.3 t/ha (3.1–4.0 kg/plant), resistant to powdery mildew.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness, resistance to powdery mildew, weak spinescence of shoots, easy propagation by layering and green cuttings, and good berry technological qualities.

Disadvantages of the variety: medium berry size.