STAR PATH

Practical cultivation: why 'Zvezdny Put' is a grower’s choice

Harvesting sea buckthorn is notoriously difficult due to thorns that tear gloves and damage fruit. The 'Zvezdny Put' variety, developed by the Federal Research Center of Cytology and Genetics, is a game-changer: it is completely thornless. This feature allows for rapid, labor-efficient manual harvesting without damaging the berry, significantly reducing the time spent in the field.

Health and Pest Resistance

From an agronomic perspective, this variety offers robust resistance to endomycosis and the sea buckthorn fly, which are often the primary threats to plantation health. By reducing the reliance on aggressive chemical treatments, 'Zvezdny Put' simplifies integrated pest management (IPM) protocols, ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable production cycle.

Utility and Application

• Processing: With an orange-red color and a berry weight of 0.7–0.9g, this variety is highly prized for processing. Its tart, acidic flavor profile combined with high Vitamin C content (200–300 mg/100g) makes it an excellent candidate for the production of juices, extracts, and oils.
• Decorative Use: Its tidy growth habit and lack of thorns make it a versatile choice for landscaping, where it serves as both an aesthetic feature and a productive fruit source.

Whether for a small-scale orchard or a larger intensive setup, this variety delivers consistent yield performance while minimizing the maintenance headaches typical of more traditional, thorny sea buckthorn cultivars.