The use of the ‘Heinemanns Rote Spatlese' variety as the initial form in the Ribes rubrum selection

Red currant is a valuable berry crop. The assortment is improved through the selection of new varieties. In the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (Russia), breeding work for red currant has been carried out since 1984. The ‘Heinemanns Rote Spatlese’ variety, selected in Germany in 1942 by crossing the Prince Albert variety with Andenken an Lorgus (type of multiflowered currant - Ribes multiflorum Kit. ex Schult.), was widely used as the initial form in crosses. The greatest breeding value was shown by the family 'Rote Spatlese'×'Jonkheer van Tets’, from which 7 varieties of red currant were obtained: Asora, Valentinovka, Dana, Dar Orla, Ogonyok, Orlovchanka, Podarok Leta. The combinations in which 2 varieties were selected were also effective: 'Rote Spatlese‘×'Red Lake' - Bayana (white-fruited), Selyanochka; 'Rote Spatlese'×'Minnesota’ – Osipovskaya, Orlovskaya Zvezda; 'Rote Spatlese'×'Maarse's Prominent' - Marmeladnitsa, Ustina. The research results show that the cultivar ‘Rote Spatlese ' is a valuable initial form in red currant selection for late ripening, long-raceme, high productivity. Based on the ‘Rote Spatlese’ genotype, VNIISPK has created 13 late-maturing, high-yielding varieties of red currant, 9 of them are included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use in the Russian Federation.