Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) ČORNIJ ŽEMČUG

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Čornij Žemčug

A popular and productive Russian variety with a refreshing taste.

'Chyornyy Zhemchug' is a Russian blackcurrant variety, prized for its high frost hardiness, early entry into bearing, stable productivity, and fruits of universal use. The bush is of medium vigor with a moderately spreading habit. The berries are medium to large, spherical, black, with a refreshing sweet-tart taste. The variety is highly self-fertile, suitable for mechanical harvesting, and has medium resistance to powdery mildew.

Main advantages of the variety:

• High frost hardiness: Reliably withstands cold winter conditions.
• Stable productivity and large fruit size: Delivers a consistent and abundant harvest every year.
• High self-fertility: Ensures a good crop even when planted alone.
• High fruit quality and good transportability: Berries are firm and handle transport well.
• Resistant to currant bud mite: Shows good resistance to a major pest.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Institution: VNIIS I. V. Michurina (I.V. Michurin All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture)
• Breeders: K.D. Sergeeva, T.S. Zvyagina, T.V. Zhigunova
• Cross: ‘Minaj Šmyrjov’ × ‘Bredtorp’
• Year of registration: In the state register since 1992.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

The bush has medium vigor, reaching a height of up to 130 cm, with a moderately spreading habit. It is highly self-fertile.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Medium to large, with an average weight of 1.3–1.4 grams, maximum up to 2.7 g.
• Shape: Spherical or round-oval.
• Color and skin: Black with a matte sheen; the skin is firm.
• Taste: Sweet-tart and refreshing. The tasting score is 4.2 points.
• Clusters: Medium to long (4–7 cm), conical in shape.
• Chemical composition: Dry matter: 17.7%; Sugars: 9.3%; Acids: 3.6%; Vitamin C: 133.3 mg/100g; P-active compounds: 1226.0 mg/100g; Pectin: 1.6%.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost hardiness: The variety is highly frost-hardy.
• Powdery Mildew: Medium resistance.
• Anthracnose: Relatively resistant.
• Currant Bud Mite: Resistant.

Growing Recommendations

• Use: Universal variety, suitable for fresh consumption as well as for various forms of processing.
• Harvesting method: Suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Harvest and Storage

• Entry into bearing: Early.
• Productivity: High and stable, with an average yield of 2.6 kg per bush (8.7 t/ha).
• Harvest time: Mid-early, ripening progressively from July 10th to 20th.
• Transportability: Good, thanks to the firm skin.