BREEDING BLACK CURRANTS WITH LATE FLOWERING AND RIPENING: SELECTION R/1/IX/87

Abstract
Extremely early flowering black currants run a high risk of contracting damage induced by late spring frosts under the agroecological conditions in Serbia.
One of the major aims at the Fruit and Grape Research Centre has therefore concerned the breeding of new black currant cultivars with later flowering and satisfactory value for commercial growing.
The program was initiated in 1982 with the collection and screening of black currant cultivars, and selection with emphasis on later flowering.
Based on that work, suitable cultivars for planned hybridizations were chosen.
A number of hybrid seedlings were bred, out of which a few were selected for further study.
Selection R/1/IX/87 proved to be superior in terms of later flowering and other important pomological and biological characters.
This selection was derived from pollinating ‘Cotswold Cross’ with a mixture of pollen from ‘Ben Lomond’ x ‘Ben Nevis’. In an observation trial, R/1/IX/87 flowered on average from 7 to 10 days later compared to the parental cultivars and other cultivars with later flowering in the same trial.
Also ripening was later than in the other cultivars.
Due to extremely firm skin, ripe berries can remain on the plants for a long time, with no losses or dropping.
The bush is vigorous, with semi-erect branching.
It is a heavy cropper and it is not particularly susceptible to the major black currant diseases and pests.

XI Eucarpia Symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics

M. Stanisavljevic

Ribes nigrum, plant breeding, late flowering, late ripening

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.663.134