SHADRIKHA

Black currant of the Shadrikha cultivar is a cultivated variety bred at the Novosibirsk Horticulture Experimental Station through the crossbreeding of the Agrolesovskaya and Bredtorp varieties. The bushes are medium-sized and moderately spreading with straight, gray-green, matte canes. Leaves are large, five-lobed, dark green, glossy, and wrinkled, with small indentations and a blunt tip. The variety is distinguished by medium ripening speed of berries and high frost resistance, enduring temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius, although young seedlings require covering in the first few years after planting. Shadrikha berries are large, weighing from 1.6 to 4.3 grams, round, dark black with a glossy and thick skin. The berry taste is sweet and sour, refreshing with a characteristic currant aroma. The chemical composition of the fruit includes up to 12.2% dry matter, up to 9.9% sugars, titratable acidity up to 0.8%, and a high ascorbic acid content—up to 136.2 mg per 100 grams. Berries have a dry detachment, which facilitates harvest collection. The Shadrikha variety is distinguished by resistance to powdery mildew and is weakly affected by bud mite, septoria, and rust. However, it is susceptible to certain diseases such as rust, gray mold, verticillium wilt, spotting, and anthracnose, as well as pests—spider mite, leafhopper, geometer moth, and gall wasp. The variety's yield is high and averages from 2.1 to 2.8 kilograms per bush. Due to its qualities and resistance, the Shadrikha variety is suitable for cultivation in various climatic conditions, especially in the Western and Eastern Siberia regions.