Apple variety Bellefleur-Chinese

Bellefleur Chinese is a late autumn apple variety bred by I.V. Michurin in 1908 through pollination of flowers of the American variety Bellefleur yellow with pollen of Kitayka large-fruited using the mentor's method. In fact, a hybrid form of Yellow Bellefleur was obtained, more adapted to growing in the harsh climatic conditions of our country. In 1948, the variety entered the State test, since 1947 Bellefleur-Chinese was zoned in Ukraine, Armenia and in many regions of various regions of Russia: North Caucasian (Rostov Region, Republic of Dagestan, Stavropol Territory), Central and Central Black Earth (Kursk , Voronezh, Belgorod regions). However, with the advent of new, more modern apple varieties, much better adapted to local natural conditions, Bellefleur-Chinese was replaced by them. Not the last role in this process was played by the cultivar's shortcomings revealed over time. To date, Bellefleur-Chinese is approved for use only in the North Caucasus region. Basically, this apple tree continues to be cultivated in individual orchards. Also, it does not lose its relevance in breeding work and often acts as a mother variety when crossed.

The trees are large enough and are tall. The crown is round or wide-rounded in shape, rather thickened, powerful skeletal branches are densely overgrown with fruit wood. Fruiting of a mixed type, fruit setting usually occurs on fruit twigs and on last year's growths.

Shoots with strong pubescence. Leaves are dark green in color, matte, very large, oblong; the edges of the leaves have a large crenate serration and are raised up, the tips of the leaves, on the contrary, are bent down. The leaf plate is rather thick, strong, leathery. The petioles are green.

In terms of appearance and taste, the fruits are not inferior to the best southern varieties. Most often apples are large and medium-sized: the average weight of one fruit from an adult apple tree is 120 - 200 g, from a young apple tree - 200 - 300 g. But there is also information that fruits can grow very large, up to 500 - 600 g. Often amateur gardeners grow Bellefleur Chinese apples because of their interest in their size, as exhibition and souvenir samples. So, at the exhibition organized in Michurinsk in 1934 and dedicated to the 80th anniversary of I.V. Michurin, the best apple samples from all over the country, grown by amateur gardeners and research organizations, were presented. Bellefleur Chinese fruits were recognized as the most beautiful and largest. The shape of the apples is round-oval, the ribbing is weak (the ribs are narrow, more noticeable in the upper part of the fruit). The main color of the fruit is light yellow at the time of picking, whitening during ripening, the integumentary color is expressed in the form of a striped blush of pink-red hue against a blurry pink background on a smaller part of the fruit. Peduncles are short in length. The funnel is narrow and rather deep in shape. The saucer is wide enough, deep, has almost even walls. The calyx is relatively small, closed.

Dessert-type fruits have very good and high taste. The pulp is snow-white, fine-grained structure, juicy, tender, very aromatic, sour-sweet taste with spice. The high taste qualities of apples are determined by a rather high sugar content and a relatively small amount of acid, the sugar-acid coefficient is very low and equal to 16. According to the chemical composition, the fruits grown under the conditions of Orel contain: the sum of sugars (11%), titratable acids ( 0.7%), ascorbic acid (vitamin C, 7 mg / 100 g).

The period of removable ripeness of fruits falls on the middle - end of September. It should be noted that apples, despite their large size, are firmly held on the branches and are not prone to premature shedding.After harvesting, it is recommended to age the apples before consumption for 15 - 20 days to fully develop their taste. The shelf life of fruits usually does not exceed 2 months (until the end of November - beginning of December), in a refrigerator, fruits can be stored until January.

In the conditions of Michurinsk, the fruiting of Bellefleur-Kitayka trees begins relatively late - at 8 - 9 years after planting. It should be noted that apple trees up to 14 - 15 years old give relatively low yields. The yield of the variety increases significantly only after 20 years. But in general, the yield of Bellefleur-Chinese is good, annual, with age - not very periodic. The average yield is 150-200 c / ha.

The index of winter hardiness of the variety is average. The indicator of scab resistance is low - the leaves are affected by the fungus to a moderate extent, the fruits are much stronger.

The main advantage of this apple tree lies in the high commercial and consumer qualities of its fruits.

The main disadvantages are: excessively large size of trees, extremely low early maturity, reduced winter hardiness, strong susceptibility to scab, insufficient yield for central Russia.

With the participation of Bellefleur Chinese, 13 new apple varieties have been bred, some of which have already been zoned in various regions of the country. Among them: Cherished, Altai velvet, Autumn joy - selection of the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia named after M.A. Lisavenko, obtained by crossing Bellefleur-Chinese with a hybrid of Ranetka purple and Pepin saffron; The Chosen One is a variety bred by Moscow State University. MV Lomonosov, obtained through free pollination of an elite hybrid (Antonovka ordinary and Bellefleur-Chinese); Rossoshanskoe augustovskoe - selection of the Rossoshanskoe zonal fruit and berry experimental station, obtained through sowing seeds of Bellefleur-Kitaika free pollination, etc.