The values created by Ukrainian breeders and their contribution to the horticultural industry
Usually, when choosing varieties for cultivation, we are guided by the characteristics of the variety: suitability for the climate, fruit size and yield, taste, resistance to diseases and pests. The breeder and country of origin of the variety often remain unknown, or it is only an object of interest for gardening fanatics and scientists. Today, when all our attention is focused on Ukraine, we think about the people of this country and their contribution to us in the field of gardening.
When Russia's war of aggression against democratic Ukraine began, we shared on our social networks the legacy left by Ukrainian breeders - varieties of apple trees, pears, sweet cherries, plums, grapes, blackcurrants and other plant species that grow not only in the orchards of the Institute of Horticulture, but probably in almost every Latvian's orchard. We are proud of the achievements of our Ukrainian colleagues!
The most widely grown blackcurrant varieties in Ukraine are those of V. and K. Kopan: 'Svita Kievskaya', 'Vernisazh' and 'Chereshneva'. Raspberry growers are well-known for the variety 'Novokitayevskaya', whose breeder is V. Kotun, who created it at the Ukrainian Horticultural Institute more than 70 years ago.
Ukrainian apple and pear varieties have very beautiful and delicious fruits, but were created in warmer climates than in Latvia, so only a few are frost-resistant. Of the apple varieties currently in Latvia, the most popular is the fairly winter-hardy 'Teremok'.
Most Ukrainian pear varieties do well when grafted onto a resistant variety. The largest Latvian pear growers recognize 'Bere Kijevskaja', 'Strijskaja', 'Ljubimica Osenniaja' and 'Tajuščaja' as the best. Almost all the best Ukrainian apple and pear varieties were created by breeders V. and K. Kopaņi.
No Ukrainas saldajiem ķiršiem Latvijā populāras ir 'Doņeckij 42-37' un 'Krupnoplodnaja'. Tām ir vidēja līdz laba koku ziemcietība, ja stumbri pasargāti no saules apdegumiem. Ziedpumpuri gan var ciest ziemās, it īpaši svārstīgās temperatūrās. Šķirni 'Krupnoplodnaja' ar vidēju augumu un tumši sarkaniem augļiem izaudzējuši MT Oratovskis un NI Turovcevs 1983. gadā. Šķirnei 'Doņeckij 42-37' ir stalts augums ar stingriem, paretiem zariem un dzelteni augļi ar sārtu vaigu. Līdzīgas īpašības, bet atšķirīgs ienākšanās laiks, piemīt arī šķirnēm 'Aelita' un 'Dončanka'. Šo šķirņu autore ir selekcionāre LI Taraņenko.
The plum varieties 'Sentjabrskaja', 'Oda', 'Kijevas Vėlā' and 'Renklod Raņņij Doņeckij', grown in Ukraine, have proven themselves well in the climatic conditions of Latvia. Winter hardiness is sufficient if a good growing site is chosen.
