Gooseberry Plum

Mid-early ripening variety, obtained at the I.V. Michurin Institute of Horticulture by pollinating the 'Malachit' variety with a pollen mixture of the 'Northern Grape' variety and selected thorny seedlings 21-57, 12-59, 13-62 (Gr. robusta x Finik + English Yellow + Green Bottle + Industry). Author: K.D. Sergeeva. Since 1986, it has been included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Central-Chernozem, Middle Volga, and Ural regions.

The bush is strong-growing, compact, with medium-density crown, medium branching, and vertically oriented branches. Growing shoots are medium-sized, nearly straight, dark green with a pink tip, hairless. Woody shoots are medium-sized and light-colored. Branch thorniness is strong. Thorns are single, double, and triple, medium length, thick, straight, light-colored, directed downward and distributed along the entire length of the shoot. Buds are egg-shaped, small, with blunt tips, light-colored, hairless, pressed against the shoot. Leaf scar is rounded-triangular.

Leaves are large, dark green, matte or slightly glossy, hairless, wrinkled, leathery, concave or wavy. Teeth are short, blunt, slightly curled. Main vein coloration is absent. Leaf is five-lobed, lobes with deep notches, central lobe exceeds lateral ones, its lateral edges are cut straight to the base. Lateral lobes are larger than average, with upward-pointing tips, acute angle between lateral lobe veins. Basal lobes are weakly developed, with spread veins. Leaf base is straight or with a small notch, angle between leaf blade base and petiole is right. Petiole is long, medium thickness, with very sparse glandular hairs at the lower part, positioned at 45° angle to the shoot.

Flowers are medium-sized, brightly colored. Sepals are large, pale, with slight anthocyanin coloration, free, curled upward. Inflorescence is single, double, rarely triple-flowered. Ovule is naked.

Berries are large (4.0-6.5 g), oval, broadly oval, dark red, nearly black when fully ripe, hairless, with a waxy coating. Seed count is moderate. Skin is thin, with weak venation, veins weakly branched, pink, lighter than the main fruit color. Taste is sweet-tart, delicate, with a distinctive plum aroma, rated 4.2 points. Receptacle is medium-sized and closed. Peduncle is medium and long, green, fleshy. Chemical composition: total sugar content — 10.2%, titratable acidity — 1.6%, ascorbic acid — 21.1-42.0 mg/100 g. Berries are of universal use.

Variety is highly winter-hardy, drought-resistant, average yield is 15.2 t/ha (4.5 kg/plant), resistant to American powdery mildew.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness and productivity, resistance to American powdery mildew, large berry size, and good taste qualities.

Disadvantages of the variety: thorniness of shoots.