What is the name of the hybrid of cherry and bird cherry?

Apparently, human nature does not lay it "to wait for favors from nature," but to create varieties and species of plants that have attractive properties, independently, artificially. The appearance of hybrids is a confirmation of this.

What is a hybrid?

The term "hybrid" in botany refers to an organism obtained as a result of crossing distinct forms. As a result, the genetic material of different cells is combined in one single.

Of course, cases of natural hybridization are known: for example, grapefruit is the result of natural crossing of pomelo and orange, but in the vast majority of cases this process is carefully controlled. The hybrid of cherry and cherry, mandarin and orange, peach and nectarine, plum and apricot are all the results of many years of painstaking work by biology scientists.

The purpose of obtaining hybrids in botany

The desire of breeders to experiment on breeding hybrids of various fruit plants is explained by the desire to improve their initial characteristics: yield, resistance to pests and immunity to diseases, frost resistance, as well as to obtain new taste, improve appearance or improve transportability.

Cherries hybrid

Cherry is a popular plant, so the breeders could not bypass it. Several successful cherry hybrids are known. Firstly, a cherry can be crossed with a cherry. The hybrid is called Duke and has increased winter hardiness and resistance to certain diseases, as well as fruits that are sweeter than cherry. The cherry hybrid with cherry plum is very beautiful during flowering, perfectly tolerates frosts and does not require careful care. There is also a hybrid of cherries and plums, the fruits of which have a unique double taste. Finally, it is possible to name successful works of breeders on crossing of a cherry with Japanese bird cherry Maaka. On this hybrid, we will dwell in more detail.

The Padocerus or the Ceraradus?

The cherry and cherry hybrid is not very widely known. As a rule, beginning gardeners about him did not hear anything. However, crossing these plants, you can get as many as two interspecific hybrids: the paddock and the ceradagus. These names may seem a little tricky and worthy of dinosaurs rather than fruit trees, but in fact everything is simple and logical: they are formed from the Latin names of cherries (Cerasus) and birdflies (Padus). Figuratively speaking, cerapadus is a hybrid of cherries and bird cherries, whose mother is cherry, and dad is bird cherry. This option was more successful and in gardening found a greater distribution. If the cherry blossoms are pollinated by the pollen of the cherry tree, then the paddocker will be obtained.

I must say that for crossing with cherries only Japanese bird cherry Maaka, combining the features of both bird cherry and cherry, but having bitter fruits, is suitable. In some sources it is now referred to as cherry, although it will be fairer to say that it occupies an intermediate position between these species.

Features of the hybrid: appearance and properties

The hybrid of cherry and bird cherry, the photo of which is presented in the article, is more like a bird cherry tree, and its fruits are located on the tree with brushes: several pieces on one peduncle, not alone or in pairs, as is the case with cherries. The berries are dark, almost black, juicy, tastes from sour-bitter to sour-sweet. Outwardly, the fruits of the cepidadus resemble cherries to a greater extent.

Initially, as a result of breeding in the 20s of the last century, Michurin obtained 3 species of cerapadus: No. 1 (from the steppe cherry and Maeak cherry), cerapadus large (the ideal type of cherry was used) and cerapadus sweet. The fruits of cerapadus No. 1 were not only bitter, but also poisonous, as they contained cyanide acid.

A hybrid of cherries and bird cherries even now, after many years of plant breeders' work, has fruits that do not have a particular sweetness. Interestingly, the more frost-hardened are the cerapadus, the more bitter berries they have.

The repeated crossing of the cerapadus with the cherry led to the appearance of popular varieties. For example, the varieties of ceradagus The long-awaited and Novella have fruits with a completely "cherry" taste and size, the Prieststitutskaya variety is distinguished by large bunches of berries, and Rusinka has an especially high winter hardiness and is quite suitable for fresh fruit. More often than not, the crop of cerapadus has a technical purpose and is used for juices and syrups.

The value of the cerapadus

The hybrid of cherry and bird cherry is appreciated for the fact that it really has a high resistance to frost and has a very well developed root system. Another important property - the resistance of the cerapadus to diseases - was recalled in the 60s of the last century, when cochemicosis collapsed in the cherry orchards - a disease in which the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall early in the summer, and the trees themselves become weaker and do not survive in winter. Cerapadus in this case are successfully used as a rootstock for seedlings of varietal cherries, simultaneously significantly increasing their frost resistance.

To the note: the stock is a plant to which the stem with a kidney of a cultivator of interest is planted. The rootstock plays a very important role: it provides full nutrition to the upper part of the plant, i.e., the scion.

Care and reproduction

With regard to care, the cerapadus are very unpretentious, can grow anywhere and on any soil, special attention is not required, including treatment with fungicides. Care is reduced to pruning, forming a bush or the crown of a tree, and weeding the stump. Regular feeding is also not necessary.

The cerapadus multiply, as it should be hybrids, exclusively by cuttings, in order to avoid splitting of the acquired features.

Cherry and cherry hybrid: useful properties

Cherries have a very rich composition: vitamins A, C, E and group B, organic acids, micro- and macro elements. In folk medicine, cherries are used as an expectorant, antipyretic, antiviral and bactericidal agent, as well as for the prevention of heart disease. Cherry juice lowers blood coagulability and increases hemoglobin.

The fruits of bird cherry due to the high content of tannins are very effective as a fixative, while normalizing the work of the intestine and improving the condition of the walls of the stomach. Used bird cherry and as an anti-inflammatory. Bird cherry Maaka in general is extremely rich in biologically active substances.

One can not say for sure whether cerapadus inherited absolutely all the useful properties of both his "parents", but it is reliably known that the decoction of its berries has a pronounced antipyretic effect, and the fruits themselves have a rich chemical composition.

Hybrids of cherry and cherry: recipes in cooking

The fruits of cerapadus are a storehouse of vitamins, so even those who are not strong in cooking can always simply freeze berries in order to use them in winter for compote or mors. In general, if there is a question about what to prepare from a bird cherry hybrid, it is enough to adopt any traditional recipe in which its "parents" appear. Thus, you can brew jam, make tinctures and liqueurs, or you can use these sour berries as a filling for pies and pancakes.