ARS | Publication request: 'VIKING' RED CURRANT

Submitted to: Fruit Varieties Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Viking red currant originated from As, Norway as 'Rote Hollandische' but was renamed in the United States. Glen G. Hahn originally imported this plant in the early 1930's because it was immune to white pine blister rust. Hahn renamed the plant in the United States to prevent confusion with another red currant, American Red Dutch, which was rust susceptible. 'Viking' is a vigorous, productive, cold hardy currant plant and is not bothered by North American diseases and pests. This plant is not directly dangerous to white pines because white pine blister rust cannot grow on its leaves. Viking could be used in traditional breeding programs to develop new types of red currants with higher yield, good quality fruit and rust resistance.

Technical Abstract: Ribes petraeum Wulf x R. rubrum L. cv. Viking originated in AS, Norway as 'Rote Hollandische' but was renamed in the United States. Glen G. Hahn originally imported this clone in the early 1930's because of its immunity to white pine blister rust. Hahn renamed the cultivar for the United States market to prevent confusion with R. rubrum cv. American Red Dutch, which was rust susceptible. 'Viking' is a vigorous good yielding, cold hardy cultivar with fair resistance to North American diseases and pests. No white pine blister rust uredia form on leaves of this cultivar after natural or artificial inoculation. The cultivar is considered "immune" to white pine blister rust.