European plum Delicious Chimal

This variety was developed at the NIISS named after M.A. Lisavensky in the mountainous Altai region (Chimal village) by selection among seedlings from open pollination of the 'Red Ball' variety. Author: M.N. Matyushin. Approved for state variety testing in 1998.

Trees are medium-sized with spherical, moderately dense crowns. The main type of fruiting is in bouquet branches. Branches have scaly, dark gray bark. Shoots are straight, medium thickness, brown, bare, with few small lenticels. Leaves are medium-sized, inversely egg-shaped, short-tapered, light green, glossy. Leaf blade is concave, curved downward, with sharply pointed apex and serrated margins. Main vein and petiole are slightly hairy on the underside. Petiole is medium length, dark red on top. Bud contains 3 flowers. Flowers are white, cup-shaped, medium-sized.

Fruits are round, 35 mm high and 35 mm in diameter, average weight 16.7 g. Stomach suture is small and barely noticeable, cavity is medium-sized. Fruit stalk is medium length and easily separates from fruits at full maturity. Main fruit color is yellow-orange, with a red covering. Subcutaneous dots are barely noticeable. Skin has no particular taste, not rough. Flesh is yellow-orange, medium density, juicy, fibrous, slightly sour-sweet, harmonious and pleasant taste. Stone is medium-sized, broadly oval, well-formed, in pits, easily separates from flesh.

Fruits ripen in the second decade of August. They contain 13.8% dry matter, 10.42% sugars, 1.12% titratable acids, 8.94 mg/100g ascorbic acid, and 430 mg/100g P-active substances. This variety is of universal use.

Begins fruiting on the 3rd to 4th year after planting as one-year seedlings. Yield is good, winter hardiness of trees and fruit buds is satisfactory. Not resistant to rot and drought, moderately resistant to moniliosis, self-sterile. Of interest in breeding for dessert fruit flavor.