Nalchanka

Introduced by S.Yu. Debitskayaeva at the North Caucasus Research Institute of Mountain and Pre-Mountain Horticulture from the crossbreeding of varieties Tavrichanka x Smuglanka. Tested in state variety trials in 2005.

Medium-growing tree with a spreading, sparse crown. Bark on the trunk is flaking and brown. Shoots are thick, straight, brown, and bare. Buds are few, small, and red. Vegetative buds are pointed, generative buds are oval and strongly deviated from the shoots. Leaves are elongated, medium-sized, and slightly pointed at the apex. Upper leaf surface is dark green, matte, and smooth. Lower leaf surface is glabrous. Leaf blade is concave (boat-shaped). Leaf apex is sharply pointed, base is pointed. Leaf margin is finely toothed. Petiole is medium in length and thickness, pigmented. Stipules are small, solitary, round, light-red. Flowers are large, white, with a compound umbel inflorescence. Petal diameter is large (3.2 cm). Petal shape is oval with serrated edges. Number of stamens per flower is 25-35, flowers are triple. Pistil is taller than stamens, length 1.4 cm. Sepals are oval, narrowly pointed, recurved, with a reddish tinge. Sepals touch the petal edges. Variety has mixed flowering and fruiting type.

Fruits are large, weighing 8.5 g, elongated, with dark red skin, no waxy bloom, and non-shedding. Fruit apex is rounded, with a small pit. Fruit base lacks indentation, with a small, narrow pit. Fruit suture is small and barely noticeable. Flesh is dark red, firm. Juice color is red. Taste is sour-sweet, scored 4.8 points. Peduncle is short, medium thickness, easily separates from the branch, attachment to stone is weak. Stone is broadly elliptical, weighing 0.23 g, with smooth surface and pink coloration. Fruits are very attractive, large, uniform, and firm — a rarity for such early maturing varieties. Taste is sour-sweet. Processing product score 4.3 points. Peduncle detachment is dry. Fruits contain 15% dry matter, 9% sugars, 0.23% acids, and 10 mg/100g ascorbic acid.

Flowering period from April 12 to April 18. Fruit ripening period from May 25 to June 7. Fruits ripen simultaneously. Enters fruiting at age 5. High and regular yield (150-200 centners/ha).

Tree, shoots, and generative buds are winter hardy. Spring frost resistance of flowers is moderate. Drought and heat tolerance are moderate. Resistance to major fungal diseases and pests is good.

Under normal agronomic practices, the variety can be grown without pesticide pressure. Suitable for selection to obtain early maturing varieties with energy-saving traits. Suitable for establishing intensive commercial orchards.

Advantages of the variety: regular yield, high-quality early-ripening fruits, disease and pest resistance.

Disadvantages of the variety: sparse crown.