Narrative
MINAJ SMYRIOV (Black Currant) This variety was created (developed) by A. Voluzniovas of the Belarus fruit farming science research institute, by crossing European species with selected Siberian subspecies forms and with Golubka. In 1967, the species was accepted for state research. In 1980, it was districted in Lithuania. The species is of the mid-early variety.
Fruit: The berries are large and round, weighing approximately 1 gram (0.3 gram more than the Golubka berry), they are black, of a dull color, good transportability, thin-skinned, sour-sweet, of average tastiness, has 15.2 - 19.3% dissolvable dry substance, of which 5.6 - 10.1% is sugar, 2.1 - 2.8% acidity and 82 - 132mg % of vitamin C, can be used fresh or for processing. On young branches, the fruit clusters are long, on old - of medium length. The axis of the cluster is thin and bent. The pedicle is long, brownish green, thin. The berries of a cluster ripen at the same time and hold firmly, however, they separate easily from the pedicle when picked.
Plants: The bushes are hardy in winter. They have average resistance to "miltlige" (a disease brought on by parasitic mushrooms), it is little affected by burnings, and of average resistance to the currant tick. It begins to blossom one day earlier than Golubka. It yields a relatively plentiful crop in the second year after planting. It yeilds a crop yearly. It self-pollinates. The specis is very productive. In Vilnius, the average yeild is 130ctn/ha (5.20kg per bush), or 42.9% greater than the Golubka species. In Panevezys it yeilds 85.2ctn/ha (3.41kg per bush), 83.2% greater than the Golubka species. The bush is strongly luxuriant, if somewhat spread out. The stems are thick and bent. The shoots are green with a reddish top, the woody stems are greyish-brown, shiny, with a gold-colored top and small reddish buds. The blossoms are of average size, and light greenish - reddish in color. The leaves are large, dark green, with some bluish tint, the leafsheet is dull-colored, leather like and somewhat bent. The leaf laciniates number five, and the cut-out patterning in between is not deep. The middle laciniate is long. The tops of the laciniates are pointed. The base of the leaf has a wide cut. The notches of the leaf edges are pointed, short, the leafstem reddish violet, and hairy. Positive characteristics of the specis: high-yeild, winter hardy, quality berries. Negative characteristics: not sufficiently resistant to "miltlige", and is susceptible to currant tick. Notes: centner = 110.25 pounds; hectare = 2.471 acres; kilogram = 2.2046 lbs Translated by Bronius Krokys from: Lithuanian Pomology; Lithaunian Science and Encyclopedia Publisher; Vilnius Lietuva, Lithuania
A. G. Voluznev cultivar release
English Translation= "in memory of Minaj Shmyrev"