Caucasian Juicy

Summer variety, developed at the North Caucasus Regional Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (origin unknown). Breeders: L. M. Sergeev and E. I. Kostetsky. Undergoing field trials in the Krasnodar region, widely grown in amateur and farmer orchards.

Trees are medium-sized with rounded, drooping crowns of moderate density. Branches emerge from the trunk at nearly right angles, curved, compactly arranged. Bark on the trunk and branches is gray, flaking.

Shoots are medium-sized, arc-shaped, without hairs, dark red. Buds are of moderate density; buds are conical, smooth, curved. Leaves are medium-sized, elongated, slightly pointed, smooth, glossy, with delicate venation, dark green. Leaf blade is flat, curved downward, leaf margin finely toothed; petiole long, medium thickness.

Flowers are medium-sized, small cup-shaped, white, odorless; petals are oval.

Fruits are medium-sized, regular shape, mass 130 g, medium uniformity, pear-shaped, surface smooth. Skin is oily, glossy, greenish-yellow at harvest, turning golden-yellow upon ripening; skin color is brownish-red, blurred over most of the fruit. Subcutaneous dots are medium-sized, gray, slightly visible. Calyx is small, sometimes slightly rusted. Receptacle is open, non-detaching; cup is small, smooth. Peduncle is long, curved. Seed cavity is small, egg-shaped, chambers closed, small, seeds small, egg-shaped, dark brown.

Flesh is creamy, tender, juicy, slightly acidic-sweet with moderate aroma. Sensory rating 4.3 points. Under Kuban conditions, fruits contain 13.4% soluble solids, 8.4% sugars, 0.5% titratable acids, 11.4 mg/100g ascorbic acid, and 65.8 mg/100g raw mass of P-active catechins.

Harvesting maturity occurs July 19-25, storage life 5-7 days.

Fruits do not drop. Their transportability is good.

Trees begin fruiting in the 6th-7th year after planting in orchards. Fruit production is annual, yield in central Kuban at 15-16 years old is 180-200 centners/ha. Drought and winter resistance are high; in unfavorable years, affected by scab up to 1 point.

Advantages of the variety: high yield, early fruit maturity, drought and winter resistance of the tree.

Disadvantages of the variety: small fruit size.