Early Red

Summer variety obtained at the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (Melba x Papировка). Hybrid seeds were sown in the permanent location in the breeding garden in 1966. The first fruiting of the seedling in the breeding garden was recorded in 1973. The breeders of the variety are: E. N. Sedov, N. G. Krasova, T. A. Trofimova, M. V. Mikhayeva, Z. M. Serova.

In 1998, the variety was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use.

Medium-sized trees, fast-growing, with a round crown. Branches are straight, compactly arranged, branch tips pointing upward. Bark on the trunk and main branches is dark gray. The predominant type of fruiting structures is simple and complex rings.

Shoots are straight, round in cross-section, brown, hairy. Buds on shoots are large, gray. Buds are medium-sized, pressed, round, hairy. Leaves are medium-sized, oval, short-pointed, green with a yellowish tint, shiny. Leaf blade is slightly concave, heavily hairy on the underside. Leaf margin is finely toothed. Petiole is slightly hairy, with slight anthocyanin coloring. Flower buds are large, hairy, rounded-conical.

Flowers are medium-sized, light pink, plate-shaped, petals elongated, closed, edges slightly raised; stigma level with stamens.

Fruits are medium-sized, round, slightly tapered. Fruit surface is smooth, large-ribbed. Skin is tender, shiny. Cover color on most of the fruit is dark red, dense blush and stripes. Subcutaneous spots are large, gray, clearly visible. Fruit stem is short, straight, upright, with thickening at the tip. Pit is medium depth, acute-conical, narrow, without rust. Receptacle is closed, shallow plate, ribbed. Core is onion-like. Chambers are half-open. Subreceptacle tube is medium depth, sac-like. Seeds are large, brown.

Fruit flesh is white, slightly cream-colored, tender, finely textured, juicy. Visually, fruits are rated 4.5 points, by taste — 4.4 points. Chemical composition of fruits: total sugar content — 9.3%, titratable acids — 0.74%, ascorbic acid — 14.7 mg/100g, P-active substances — 288 mg/100g,

Harvesting maturity in the Oryol region occurs from August 1 to 15, compared to control variety Papировка from August 1 to 8. Consumer period lasts from early August to mid-September.

The variety is early-bearing and high-yielding; average yield was 170 centners/ha, while control variety Papировка — 120 centners/ha.

Trees are relatively winter-hardy. In the winter of 1984-1985, when air temperature dropped to -31.6ºC and surface snow temperature to -36ºC, bark freezing was observed at level 1.0, similar to control variety Papировка. Resistance to scab is moderate.

Advantages of the variety: early bearing, high yield, winter hardiness, ornamental fruits.

Disadvantages of the variety: only moderate resistance to scab.