Gooseberry Northern Captain

Medium-ripening variety, obtained at VSTISP from crossing form #310-24 and the variety Rozovy-2. Author I.V. Popova. Since 2007, it has been included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Northwestern region.

The bush is vigorous, moderately spreading under fruit load. The crown is dense with strong branching; branch directions are inclined. Non-woody shoots are medium-thick, slightly curved, heavily branched, green in color, without hairs. Tips of zero shoots have anthocyanin coloring, no hairs. Woody shoots are medium-thick, gray in color. Thorniness level is weak. Thorn length is short, less than 7 mm. Thorns are thin, single, sparse, straight, matte, without gloss, located at the base of shoots. No thorns on zero shoots. Buds are elongated, medium-sized, brown, without hairs, bud tips are pointed and light. Bud placement on shoots is opposite. Bud position relative to the shoot is appressed. Terminal bud is single.

Leaves are three-lobed, large, dark green, without hairs on upper and lower leaf surfaces. Leaf surface is slightly wrinkled, leaf blade is grassy, wavy, slightly concave. Leaf blade margins have large teeth, tooth tips are blunt. Main veins are fully colored. Central lobe is elongated, rounded at the apex, longer than lateral lobes. Additional protrusions are present. Lateral margins of central lobe are cut straight to the base. Lateral lobes are 2 cm shorter than central lobe, lateral lobes are equal in width. Angle between central and lateral lobes is acute. Basal lobes are well-developed, wider than central lobe. Leaf base is heart-shaped with a slight notch. Angle between leaf blade base and petiole is obtuse. Petiole notch shape is rounded. Petiole is long (2.5 cm), medium-thick, slightly hairy, positioned on the shoot at a 45° angle.

Flowers are large, oval. Calyx lobes are green with reddish stripes along the edges. Calyx lobe arrangement is loose. Inflorescence is two- or three-flowered.

Berries are medium-sized (3.5–4 g), round, with a broadened base, black, with a waxy coating, sweet-tart, intended for technical use, medium-firm skin, easy to detach, berries do not drop. Seeds are small. Veining is weak, vein color is lighter than main color. Calyx is closed. Pedicel is medium-length, greenish-red, without hairs. Chemical composition: dry solids — 10.9%, total sugars — 8.9%, titratable acidity — 2.9%, ascorbic acid — 12.1 mg/100 g, anthocyanins — 90.0 mg/100 g. Excellent processing qualities: wine, juice with pulp, natural dye.

Advantages of the variety: winter hardiness, high resistance to powdery mildew, weak susceptibility to anthracnose and septoria, resistance to fruit fly and sawfly, excellent rooting in all vegetative propagation methods.

Disadvantages of the variety: bush density, low flavor quality.