Comparative evaluation of new varieties of black currant breeding All Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding

This article presents crop variety investigation data of four new promising black currant varieties Nura, Narianna, Yubiley Orla and Nadia submitted the for State Variety Trials in 2014-2016 and recommended for cultivation in industrial and amateur fruit-growing. The results of the assessment of the varieties for resistance to powdery mildew, rust, leaf spots and the most dangerous pest bud mite are given. Powdery mildew is a limiting disease in Orel conditions. All new varieties had no signs of this disease while the control variety was affected by 1.5 points. The comparative assessments for yield, stability of fruiting and berry quality are given. Over three years of study the highest average yield was significantly higher than in the control variety (51.3 quintals per hectare) in Yubiley Orla (98.0 quintals per hectare), Narianna (81.7 quintals per hectare) and Nadia (82.3 quintals per hectare). In general, during the study period the varieties Nadia and Nura were more stable in fruit-bearing. Their yields were 56-90 quintals per hectare during the years of observation and variations within the years did not exceed 10-20 quintals per hectare. Nura and Yubiley Orla were best in the maximal berry weight - 2.5 g. Berry appearance (color, shape, size) defines such commodity as the attractiveness of the appearance for the consumer and is a typical varietal characteristic important for the breeders. According to this indicator, all the varieties had high scores (over 4) and were not inferior to the control. As a result of the studies, it was concluded that the varieties Nura, Narianna, Yubiley Orla and Nadia can be recommended for breeding as sources of a complex of economically important characteristics and for more extensive study in the production test.