Memory of Sergeev

Late-winter apple variety of intense spur-type selection from SKZNIISiV. Obtained through hybridization in 1971 of hybrid form selection by L. M. Sergeev C6-47 (Miginch x Jonathan) and variety Prima, using mutation selection method. Breeder S. N. Artiukh.

Variety Memory of Sergeev was introduced into the Russian State Register of Selection Achievements in 2000 for use in gardens of the North Caucasus. The variety began to spread in southern Russia.

Tree medium-sized in early stages and low-growing in full maturity. Crown transitions from oval to broadly oval. Main branches diverge from trunk at sharp angles, with many branches growing vertically upward. Fruit-bearing type is mixed, with predominance of spurs and one-year shoots. Bark on trunk and main branches is dark gray.

Shoots are medium or thick, smooth, round, red, with hairs at upper part and dense stipules. Leaves are medium-sized, broad-oval, with rounded or unequal base, short and evenly pointed apex, deeply lobed, slightly wrinkled in lower and middle parts. Leaf margin is single or double-toothed. Leaf blade forms acute angle with stem. Pubescence is weak or moderate. Upper surface color is dark green, glossy. Petiole is medium or long, with pink veins and solid red at base; stipules are awl-shaped or absent. In nursery, leaves are broad-oval, large, wrinkled, with sharply angled petiole.

Flowers are medium-sized, bowl-shaped, petals dark-lilac outside, pink inside, with short glabrous stigmas, stigmas positioned at level of anthers. Buds are dark red. Flowering is very late.

Fruits are above-average size, fairly uniform, round-oval shape, slightly asymmetric, weakly ribbed, with slightly warty apex. Calyx is narrow and deep, with noticeable wrinkled walls. Main color at harvest is light green, turns green-yellow in storage, with intense lilac blush covering most of the fruit. Skin is oily, with light sparse subcutaneous dots and dense pruina, inside narrow cavity with gray down. Pedicel is medium thickness and length, barely protruding beyond cavity, colored and slightly curved. Calyx is small, closed or half-open; calyx tube is inversely conical, small. Seed chambers are closed. Axial cavity is very narrow. Seeds are small, well-formed, light brown, slightly flattened-oval.

Flesh is white with creamy tint, slightly sour-sweet, very firm and juicy, almost odorless but refreshing. Chemical composition of fruits: dry matter — 12-14%, sugars — 9-13%, titratable acids — 0.3-1%, ascorbic acid — 8-9 mg/100g, P-active substances — 90-150 mg/100g fresh weight.

In the Kuban Plain, the variety is considered late-winter. Typical harvest period — end of September to beginning of October. In dry autumn, ripening fruits may drop off due to wind. Storage duration — 8-9 months. In storage, fruits develop intensive waxy coating, flesh density and storage capacity are higher in gardens with irrigation. Transportability of fruits is high. Skin of fruits has good regenerative capacity after mechanical damage. Fruit quality — 95%.

Fruits are consumed fresh and are suitable for processing into juices.

Variety is self-sterile. Best pollinators: Renet Simirenko, Prikuibansky, Din Art.

Trees begin fruiting on 3-4th year. Fruit production is regular in gardens without disruption of intensive horticulture technologies. Yield of the variety is high: average multi-year yield is 345-400 c/ha at planting density of 1000 trees/ha.

Cold and winter hardiness of the variety are high. Heat and drought resistance are good. Variety is highly tolerant to diseases.

Advantages of the variety: Variety Memory of Sergeev is characterized by early fruiting, regular and high yield, due to intensive fruit bud formation on spurs and one-year shoots; highly adaptable.

Disadvantages of the variety: fruit drop from wind during fruit ripening under soil and air moisture deficit.

In breeding, the variety is a donor of early fruiting, long fruit storage period, cold and frost resistance.