Model of an industrial black currant variety for Central Russia

In this article, the author generalizes his own scientific observations and carries out an analysis of breeding achievements, as well as physiological and biochemical studies, into industrial black currant varieties. Account is taken of the producers’ need for regional black currant models. The priority task in the creation of an industrial variety of black currant for the conditions of Central Russia consists in obtaining genotypes capable to developing berry-producing plants with a yield per bush of 2.8 kg under a vegetation period of 130-180 days and active temperatures of up to 2000 °С. Frost resistance does not limit the area of crop distribution; however, resistance to winter thaws is an important adaptation criterion. The parameters of high plant productivity include the following: the number of fruit-bearing shoots – 18-22 ps, >15 fruit-bearing nodes, the average berry weight >2.0 g, the number of berries in a bunch – 10 ps and more, the proportion of multi-bunch nodes >20 %, the actual yield >12 t/ha. The industrial value of the variety determines its suitability for mechanical fruit harvesting. The latter operation is associated with significant costs, thus affecting the strategy of modern breeding. Mechanical harvesting imposes strict restrictions on the height and width of the bush, with preference being given to plants no higher than 1.8 m with a base width of up to 0.3 m. Industrial black currant varieties should yield fruits with >17 Brix RSV, <3 % organic acids, >7.5 % sugars, >200 mg/100 g vitamin C, >1000 mg/100 g P-active substances, >350 mg/100 g anthocyanins, >1.5 % pectin substances, >15 μg/100 g folic acid. The commercial and consumer indicators of berry quality include degustation evaluation, attractive appearance, ability to preserve fruits for a long period of time at ripening without quality reduction and falling off. The presence of this trait set in a new variety seems to be the main task in breeding the culture. This requires considerable efforts in developing, studying, and replenishing the sources of each represented trait using the created genetic collections, which will allow the proposed model to be implemented in new varieties.