Amorel Pink

A variety of Russian folk selection, widely spread in the Volga region. In the middle zone of Russia, it is also known as Amorel or Early Amorel. Included in the State Register for the Northwestern, Middle Volga, and Lower Volga regions, it has been tested since 1947.

A medium-sized tree, reaching 2.5–3.0 m in height, up to 3.5 m in southern regions, with a sparse, round, and spreading crown as it ages. Main branches are grayish-silver, emerging from the trunk at an acute angle, rough. Shoots are weakly curved, thin, flexible, brownish with a silvery coating. Vegetative buds are oval-conical, deviated from the shoots; generative buds are round-oval. Leaves range from elongated-oval to narrowly obovate, medium-sized — 75 x 37 mm, dark green, dense, with slightly wavy margins and doubly toothed edges, acute apex and elongated base; glands, 1–2, located on petioles at the base of the leaf blade, small, reddish-green; petiole short — 20 mm, thick, green, with anthocyanin pigment. Flowers in one inflorescence average 4, small — 26 mm, saucer-shaped, with broadly oval petals having an oval base and slightly divided apex; stigma is positioned above stamens, stigma length 9–11 mm; stamen filaments 6–8 mm long; calyx narrow-bowl-shaped, green, with anthocyanin pigment; pedicel up to 21 cm, with weak anthocyanin pigmentation. Fruit set is mixed, mostly on cluster branches.

Fruits 13.5 x 15.1 x 14.0 mm, weighing about 3 g, flat-round, with rounded apex and broad, fine pit; ventral suture barely visible. Skin is light-red, flesh cream-pink, tender, juicy, fibrous, tart-sweet flavor, bitter when underripe; juice colorless. Flesh contains dry matter — 10.8%, sugars — 10.2%, free acids — 1.3%, ascorbic acid — 16.3 mg per 100 g fresh weight. Stone mass 0.22 g, 10 x 8.7 x 7.3 mm, makes up 5.1% of fruit mass, light-cream, round, smooth surface, rounded base and apex, semi-detaching. Peduncle 23–35 mm long, firmly attached to the fruit. Fruits are intended for fresh consumption, poorly transportable.

Begins fruiting on the 4th–5th year after grafting. Flowering is early, ripening is early — early-medium. Fruit distribution in the crown is even. Self-sterile. Winter hardiness is satisfactory, branches are damaged 2–3 points during cold winters. Yield at 10 years in Leningrad Oblast was 4.5 kg per tree, according to data from Saratov Experimental Orchard Station (Kruglova A.P., 1969) — up to 15–18 kg. Plants are affected by coccomycosis up to 3 points; damage by cherry fruit fly is noted at low intensity. Susceptible to mass bird damage during fruit ripening. Net coverings are necessary to protect the harvest. Suitable for amateur gardening.

Advantages: compact growth habit, early fruit ripening.

Disadvantages: light-red skin, cream-pink flesh, and colorless juice reduce commercial and consumer quality of fruits, poor transportability.