Black currant Sadko

In this article, we will consider Sadko's black currant. It belongs to the representatives of the plants of this berry culture with an average period of fruit ripening. A variety appeared in the department of mountain horticulture of the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia. M.A. Lisavenko, thanks to the works of such breeders as L.N. Zabelina and E.I. Nakvasina, by selection of the Yadrenaya subspecies and the form of the Siberian subspecies. Since 2004, this subspecies has been on the state test of varieties.

Black currant Sadko - description and characteristics

The shrub of this subspecies has a strong growth, an average spreading rate and an average thickening. Growing shoots are of medium thickness, they are straight, rich green color and pinkish shade of the apical part, as well as with a short but dense pubescence. Lignified shoots are endowed with an average indicator of thickness, have a grayish-brown color with numerous glands of an intense yellow hue, they also have a slight pubescence. The buds are of medium size, single, rounded elongated, slightly sharp, pale green in color with yellowness from a large number of glands. It is also worth noting that they have pubescence and deviation from the shoot, the upper bud in a free position.

The leaves of this variety have five lobes. One such leaf is endowed with an average size and yellowish-green color, has no pubescence. This leaf also has a slight folding, an average density, it is concave and has a matte surface. The middle lobe is elongated, with a right angle between the veins of the middle lobes. The basal lobes have an average and weak level of development, the veins are spread, or have a direction to the apical part of the leaflet. The base of the leaf has a very small open-type notch. The teeth are rather short, crenate, with an average length. They have white tips and a curved notch. The main veins are colored pale green or light pink. The petioles of the data leaves are of medium length and thickness, with slight pubescence. It is also worth saying that they have a greenish-brown color with an anthocyanin tint at the edges, often stipules are developed, located in the lower part of the shoot at right angles, and in the upper part they are to the shoot at an acute angle of 30 degrees.

The flowers of this shrub are endowed with an average size when opened. Their sepals are pink in color, cream-colored petals, rejected and unclosed. The brushes have an average length and thickness, they consist of 4-6 fruits, they also have an average density, the axis is slightly pubescent, of a pale green color.

The fruits of this subspecies, when ripe, are large in size, one berry can reach an average of two grams in weight. They are spherical, one-dimensional, black in color with a slight brownish tint. The surface of the fruit is slightly shiny. The inside of the berry has an average number of medium to small sized seeds. The surface of the fruit is covered with a thin and delicate skin. The gap between these berries is dry. They taste sweet, with a small amount of acidity, have a dessert aftertaste and a rather rich aroma. The calyx is quite small, falling off. The peduncle is short, slightly pubescent and pale green in color. In their chemical composition, berries contain: dry soluble substances from 11 to 15.8 percent, the amount of sugars from 6.4 to 8.9 percent, titratable acids from 2.1 to 3.6 percent, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 81 milligrams per 100 grams of product, pectin 1.1 percent.

The main distinguishing features of this subspecies are its high level of frost tolerance, self-fertility (48 percent), good immunity to fungal diseases, high yield (about 9 tons per hectare).

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite all its excellent features and characteristics, this variety has its positive and negative qualities. Its main advantages include:

• - Large fruit size when ripe.
• - Dessert taste.
• - Excellent ability to recover.
• - Simple and easy reproduction.
• - Immunity to common fungal diseases.

The disadvantages of the variety can be called its insufficient resistance to the attack of such dangerous and common harmful insects as gall aphids, kidney mites, as well as the disease of hazel grouse.