Gooseberry Serenada

Late-maturing variety, developed at the VNIIS (Institute of Garden Horticulture) named after I.V. Michurin from crossing the varieties 'Kaptivator 0-271' and 'Besshipny 3'. Authors: K.D. Sergeeva and T.S. Zvyagina. Registered in the State Register of Selection Achievements for use in the Central Chernozem region since 2004.

Strong-growing, slightly spreading bush with medium-density crown. Growing shoots are medium-length, straight, light-green, and hairless. Woody shoots are medium-thick, light-colored. Thorns on shoots are very weak, single, short and medium-length, straight, light-colored, matte, oriented perpendicularly to the shoots and located only in the lower part. Buds are elongated, medium-sized, dark-brown, hairless, and slightly bent.

Leaves are large, green, matte, hairless, slightly wrinkled, medium density, straight or slightly concave. Teeth are medium-sized, blunt, slightly curled. Main vein coloration is absent. Leaf is three- to five-lobed, lobes with deep notches, central lobe larger than lateral ones, its lateral edges cut straight to the base. Lateral lobes are medium-sized, rounded, with upward-pointing tips, acute angle between lateral lobe veins. Basal lobes are weakly developed, veins spread out. Leaf base is straight, angle between leaf blade base and petiole is straight, occasionally obtuse. Petiole is medium-length and thickness, with very sparse glandular hairs in lower part, positioned at 45° angle to the shoot.

Flowers are medium-sized, pale. Sepals are pale, free, strongly bent upward. Inflorescence is one- or two-flowered. Ovule is bare.

Berries are medium to large (4.0–6.1 g), pear-shaped or elongated-conical, dark-red, hairless, with weak waxy coating. Few seeds. Skin is dense, medium thickness, with weak venation, veins slightly branched, pink, lighter than main fruit color. Taste is sour-sweet, rating 4.0 points. Receptacle is complete, semi-open or closed. Berry stem is medium, brown-green, hairless, with fleshy base. Chemical composition: total sugar content — 10.1%, titratable acidity — 2.3%, ascorbic acid — 28.0 mg/100 g. Berries are versatile in use.

Highly winter-hardy, drought-resistant, average yield 12.0 t/ha (3.6 kg/plant), exhibits relative resistance to American powdery mildew.

Advantages of the variety: weak thorniness, large fruit size, high winter hardiness and productivity, good berry transportability.

Disadvantages of the variety: possible infection by American powdery mildew in certain years.