European plum Covenant

Seedling from open pollination of the Manchurian Beauty variety. Originator — Sverdlovsk Selection Station for Horticulture. Authors: M.G. Isaeva, V.S. Putov, I.A. Puchkin. Included in the State Register in 2004 for the Volga-Vyatka region.

Medium-sized tree, 3-4 m tall, with a spreading crown of medium density and foliage. Shoots are pink-purple. No pubescence. Buds are small: vegetative 2.6 mm, generative 2.1 mm, slightly deviated from the shoots. Leaves are inversely egg-shaped, average size 36 cm², dark green, medium thickness. Leaf surface is matte, no pubescence on the upper surface, slight on the underside. Leaf margin is serrated. Petiole length 12 mm. Number of stipules 1-2. Petals are moderately open, stamens 19, stigma positioned higher relative to stamens. No pubescence on the ovary. Calyx shape is cup-shaped. Pedicel 13 mm, no pubescence. Flowering and fruiting occur on shortened and vegetative shoots.

Fruits are broadly round, weight 25-30 g. Main color is yellow, with a slight blush. No fruit pubescence, weak waxy coating. Fruit apex and base are rounded, with shallow depression. Equator is moderately developed. Flesh is yellow, granular-fibrous, firm, juicy. Peduncle 14 mm. Stone is medium, oval, weight 1.3 g, constitutes 5.2% of flesh weight. Fruits have an attractive cherry-like appearance, rated 5.0 points. Fruit aroma is moderate. Flavor is good, slightly tart-sweet, tasting score of fresh fruits 4.7 points. Fruits contain 14.2% soluble solids, 8.8% sugars, 1.8% acids, 767.2 mg catechins/100g. Dry detachment of peduncle from fruit. Transportable. Variety intended for table and technical use.

Flowering is late, from May 18 to 25. Fruit ripening is late, from August 25 to September 5. Enters fruiting from the fourth year (rootstock plants). Longevity is high, over 30 years with timely rejuvenating pruning. Self-sterile. Annual, high fruiting. Yield per tree 15-30 kg, maximum 45 kg. Average yield over 1999-2005 was 13.0 t/ha with planting scheme 3 x 4 m.

High winter hardiness of wood and fruit buds. Due to late flowering, the variety avoids frost damage. Moderate drought resistance. No disease incidence observed. In some years, damage from plum aphid and sawfly occurs. Suitable for intensive orchards.

Advantages of the variety: winter hardiness, late flowering, annual good fruiting, fruit quality.

Disadvantages: self-sterile, occasionally damaged by sawfly.