Bagayevskiy Malt

Summer variety of folk selection. Described by V. V. Pashkevich in 1908 as 'Red Malt,' found in the garden of Semen and Stepan Kuznetsov in the village of Bagayevka in the Potemkin Valley. In Pashkevich's description for the Saratov Governorate, nine forms are listed: Maly or Malt, Yellow Malt, Pink-striped Malt, Black Malt, Red Malt, Pink Malt, Gray Malt, Maltovskoye, Onionskin Malt, Anise Malt. Particularly notable is 'Red Malt,' or 'Bagayevskiy Malt,' which is presumably a clone of Gray Malt and resembles Anise. The variety is included in the State Register for the Middle Volga and Lower Volga regions. Widely cultivated in commercial and backyard orchards of the Volga and Central Russia regions.

Tree is vigorous, forming a large, broad, flat-round crown with a large branch angle from the trunk. Gray, rough bark. Fruit borne on spurs and fruiting branches.

Medium-thick, brown, moderately hairy shoots. Leaves medium-sized, elliptical, long-pointed, light green. Leaf blade strongly curved downwards along the main vein, heavily hairy, finely serrated at the edges.

Inflorescence has 5-6 large, cup-shaped flowers with white petals and entire margins. Petal closure is medium.

Fruits are medium to medium-small, weighing 80-120 g, flat-round in shape, smooth or slightly ribbed. Skin shiny, with strong waxy coating. Main color greenish or whitish. Overcoat color as a bright, blurred reddish blush. Numerous, large, clearly visible subcutaneous dots. Short, medium-thick pedicel. Deep, wide, rust-free depression. Closed, non-falling calyx. Medium-depth and width receptacle, smooth or broadly ribbed. Sub-calyx tube broad-conical, heart-shaped with broad lobes. Chambers closed. Seeds medium-sized, elongated, light brown.

Flesh white, sour-sweet taste.

Trees begin fruiting at 6-7 years. High yield — up to 500 centners per hectare.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness, drought resistance, high yield, attractive fruit appearance, long tree life (heavy fruiting up to 80 years).

Disadvantages of the variety: alternate bearing, moderate resistance to scab.