Black Cherkashina

Developed jointly by the Minusinsk Experimental Station for Horticulture and Melon Cultivation and the Buryat Fruit and Berry Experimental Station from crossing the varieties Murovets and Slaboshipovatyy 2. Authors: V.F. Cherkashin, T.P. Voronina, V.G. Samsonova. Since 1991, included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Western and Eastern Siberian regions.

Medium-height, medium-spreading, medium-density bush. Moderate branching, inclined direction. Non-woody shoots thick, straight, hairy. Woody shoots medium, curved, light-gray. Thorns few, located only in the lower part of the shoot, medium length and thickness, straight, single or double, matte, light-colored, slightly bent downward. Thorns small number, dark-brown. Buds single, elongated, small, pointed at the tip, dark-brown, hairy, deviated, terminal free. Leaf scar wedge-shaped.

Leaf medium, dark-green, matte. Hairy covering of the lower leaf part weak. Blade wrinkled, grassy, straight. Teeth along the edge blunt, short. Coloration of main veins absent. Five lobes, central lobe medium-sized with protrusions, lateral lobes medium-sized, pointed, directed sideways, angle between veins acute. Basal lobes weakly expressed, veins directed toward the petiole. Base of leaf straight. Depth of notch between central and basal lobes medium, notch narrow and sharp. Angle between base of blade and petiole right. Petiole thick, long, hairy along entire length, positioned on shoot at acute angle.

Flowers medium size, sepals light-green, position free, hairy covering of ovary weak, simple. Inflorescence two-flowered.

Berries small (2.12.4 g), irregular, almost black, pear-shaped, elongated, with a stigma at base, simple, weak hairy covering throughout the fruit. Seeds small, medium quantity. Skin medium thickness, vein pattern and branching weak, vein color lighter than main fruit color. Taste sour-sweet, taste evaluation 4.0 points.

Receptacle non-detaching, large, closed. Pedicel straight, medium length, brown-green, thick. Chemical composition: total sugar content — 8.0%, titratable acidity — 3.1%, ascorbic acid — 16.0 mg/100 g. Berries for universal use.

Highly winter-hardy, drought-resistant, moderate heat tolerance, yield 6.0 t/ha (1.8 kg/plant), moderate self-fertility, resistant to diseases and pests.

Advantages of the variety: weak thorniness of shoots, good taste and technological qualities of fruits, resistance to powdery mildew.

Disadvantages of the variety: insufficient berry size, weak shoot-forming ability.