Wonder

Wonder is a Ukrainian plum variety, a plum-cherry hybrid, also known as a duke. It was developed by breeder L.I. Tarankenko at the Donetsk Experimental Orchard Station through crossing the varieties "Griot Ostgейm" and "Valeriy Chkalov". The trees are medium-sized with beautiful broadly oval crowns, thick gray-brown branches, and large buds resembling cherry buds. In terms of growth vigor and some characteristics, the variety is closer to plum, while in branching and flower appearance, it resembles cherry. Flowers are large and clustered in racemes on short pedicels. Due to its ability to form flower buds at the base of one-year-old growth, the variety is early-bearing: fruit appears as early as the 2nd–3rd year, and full fruiting begins from the 4th year. The fruits of Wonder are very large, weighing about 9–10 grams, dark red in color, flat-round in shape. The flesh is sweet, without acidity, with a distinct dessert flavor and a unique combination of plum and cherry aromas. The stone is small and easily separates from the flesh. The juice of the fruits has a rich red or dark red color. Thanks to its excellent taste qualities, which received high tasting ratings, the plum is suitable for both fresh consumption and various types of preservation. The variety ripens in the first or last decade of June, making it one of the early-ripening varieties. Wonder exhibits high winter hardiness and resistance to diseases, including complex fungal infections such as moniliosis and coccomycosis, and shows resistance to cherry fly. Yield is stable and high when suitable pollinators are selected, preferably cherry varieties. The variety grafts well onto seedlings or seedlings of upright plum and onto VSL rootstocks. Due to its unique characteristics and reliability, Wonder is widely used both in private gardens and in commercial plantings.