BIOLOGICAL-POMOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME BLACKCURRANT CULTIVARS AND SELECTIONS

Abstract

Over a five-year period (1992-1997), the major properties of eleven blackcurrant cultivars were studied under the agroecological conditions of Cacak. The planting was established at the Ljubic locality belonging to the Fruit and Grape Research Centre, Cacak. The cultivars included in the trial were as follows: 'Ben Nevis', 'Ben Lomond', 'Ben More', 'Fertodi 1', F II/1, 'Tenah', 'Tsema', Bo 581*, Bo 663, Bo 539 and 'Cacanska Crna'. Phenology of flowering and ripening, strig mass, number of berries per strig, percentage of berry set, berry mass and dimensions, number of seeds per berry, stalk mass, soluble solids and yield per bush and ha were assessed. The earliest flowering and ripening was registered in cv. 'Fertodi 1' and selection F II/1 and the latest in 'Ben More'. The largest strig mass and number of berries per strig was recorded with cv. 'Cacanska Crna'. Cvs. 'Ben Lomond' and 'Ben Nevis' had the largest berry set in open pollination. The highest content of soluble solids was registered in selection Bo 539. Cv. ‘Cacanska Crna’ had the highest cropping potential and yield.