Gooseberry Russian

Mid-late maturing variety, obtained at the All-Union Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin from pollination of the Karrelles variety with a pollen mixture of the Hautton, Oregon, Curry, and Stem varieties. Author: K.D. Sergeeva. Since 1959, it has been included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use throughout Russia except in the Ural region.

Medium-height bush, more spreading in young age, medium-density crown, weak branching. Growing shoots are thick, arched, light green, with anthocyanin coloration at the top, hairless. Woody shoots are medium thickness, light-colored. Thorniness of shoots is medium, thorns are predominantly single, medium length and thickness, straight, light, oriented perpendicular to the shoot or obliquely upward, located in the lower part of the shoot. Buds are elongated, small, with pointed tips, brown, hairless, deviated.

Leaves medium-sized, green, matte or slightly glossy, hairless, with wrinkled surface, leathery, concave. Teeth are small, blunt, slightly bent backward. Main vein coloration is absent. Leaf is five-lobed, lobes have medium indentations, central lobe slightly exceeds lateral ones, its lateral margins are rounded. Lateral lobes are medium-sized, pointed, with upward-pointing tips, angle between lateral lobe veins is acute. Basal lobes are poorly developed, their veins are spread out. Leaf base is straight, angle between leaf blade base and petiole is straight. Petiole is medium length and thickness, with very sparse glandular hairs in the lower part, positioned at 45° angle to the shoot.

Flowers medium-sized, pale. Sepals are pale, free, slightly curved upward. Inflorescence is single or two-flowered. Ovule is bare.

Berries are medium to large (3.0-6.0 g), oval or elliptical, dark red, hairless, with waxy coating. Seed quantity is medium. Skin is medium thickness, strongly veined, veins slightly branched, lighter than skin. Taste is sour-sweet (4.0 points). Receptacle is complete, fairly large, closed. Stem is short, thin, light green, hairless. Chemical composition of berries: total sugars — 9.9%, titratable acidity — 1.8%, ascorbic acid — 23.6-41.6 mg/100 g. Berries are versatile in use.

Highly winter-hardy, drought-resistant, average yield is 7.0-19.3 tons/ha (2.1-5.7 kg/plant), characterized by good self-fertility, resistant to American powdery mildew.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness, productivity, and consumer qualities of berries.

Disadvantages of the variety: spreading habit of the bush in young age.