Research Importance

While most Montanans may be familiar with native varieties such as the clove currant (Ribes odoratum), European species of black (Ribes nigrum) and red (Ribes rubrum) currant are better suited to commercial production. These species tend to exhibit larger fruit, higher yields, more even ripening, and potential for mechanized harvest. They’re very popular in Europe, which is where most of the commercial breeding and production occurs.

Currants are gaining momentum in the US market after a period of being banned due to their association with white pine blister rust (WPBR), Crinortium ribicola. The currant plant can act as an alternate host to WPBR, which has posed a threat to the American timber industry since the 1920s. However, recent research has shown that currants are not the only alternate host for this disease, and the timber industry has also adapted by using tree species that are less susceptible to WPBR. Breeding efforts in currants have also improved their resistance to diseases, including WPBR.*  This research project aims to better understand which cultivars of red and black currant may serve as profitable crops for growers in Montana.

*Resistance in black currant resulted from crosses with R. nigrum and R. ussurienses. Cultivars produced from initial crosses ('Crusader', 'Coronet', 'Consort') had poor flavor and processing qualities.

Research Summary

Red and black currant cultivars were planted as dormant wood cuttings (except 'Jonkeer van Tets', which were rooted) at four locations across the state (Corvallis-WARC, Bozeman-MSU, Kalispell-FVCC, and Helena) in 2015. Four cultivars of black currant were planted at all sites: 'Titania' (commonly planted in commercial orchards), 'Tofino', 'Blackcomb', and 'Stikine'. At the Western Agricultural Research Center (WARC), four additional cultivars were planted: 'Cheakamus', 'Tahsis', 'Nicola' (aka 'M12'), and 'Whistler'. Two varieties of red currants—'Rovada' and 'HRON'—were planted at all sites, with the addition of 'Jonkeer van Tets' at WARC. At all sites, each cultivar was represented by 9 plants (3 plants/block x 3 blocks).  Annual metrics assessed include plant survival, pests, fruit yield, berry size, and sugar content (⁰Bx). 

Results

At the WARC site, black currants with the highest yields were the 'Nicola', 'Tahsis', and 'Whistler', each weighing in at 16+ lbs per plant (Table 1). For the red currants, 'Jonkeer van Tets' yielded 2x higher than 'Rovada' and 12.5x higher than 'HRON'. 'Stikine' yielded highest within black currant cultivars planted at the FVCC site (Table 2), weighing in with 2.7x the yield of 'Titania', 'Blackcomb', and 'Tofino'.

Table 1. Yields in lbs/plant at the WARC site.
Type
Cultivar
Yield (lbs/plant)
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020*
2021
Black
Blackcomb
0.1
4.1
7.0
11.3
6.8
8.7
Black
Cheakamus
0.1
3.8
6.8
9.7
7.0
8
Black
Nicola (M12)
0.3
6.0
10.8
13.8
6.5
8.2
Black
Stikine
0.1
3.0
9.2
5.1
5.3
8.6
Black
Tahsis
0.2
5.4
10.9
11.5
8.7
9.4
Black
Titania
0.1
2.2
5.0
7.0
5.1
5.1
Black
Tofino
0.1
2.6
6.0
7.6
4.3
5.2
Black
Whistler
0.3
5.7
12.0
14.1
9.9
8..4
Red
HRON
0.0
0.1
1.3
6.6
2.9
10.4
Red
Jonkeer van Tets
0.0
3.5
14.0
13.5
3.7
15.9
Red
Rovada
0.0
1.1
7.7
9.1
8.1
16.3

* Significant yield lost to gooseberry maggot in 2020 (~30% loss in Black Currants and 60% loss in Reds)

Table 2. Yields in lbs/plant at the FVCC site.
Type
Cultivar
Yields (lbs/plant)
2016
2017
2018
Black
Blackcomb
0.0
0.5
3.8
Black
Stikine
0.0
4.0
9.0
Black
Titania
0.0
0.6
4.2
Black
Tofino
0.0
1.6
2.4
Red
HRON
0.0
0.06
2.6
Red
Rovada
0.0
0.1
4.1

'Tahsis' and 'Whistler' exhibited the heaviest overall berry weights, averaging 65% heavier than the smallest cultivars, 'Titania' and 'Tofino' (Table 3). However, % sugar (⁰Bx) in 'Titania' was highest amongst black currant cultivars at both sites. Red currant cultivars showed little variation in berry weight as well as % sugar across both sites. 'HRON' averaged a lower berry weight (0.7 g) but higher % sugar (11.6 ⁰Bx) than 'Rovada' and 'Jonkeer van Tets'.

Table 3. Average berry weights across years at the WARC site.
Type
Cultivar
berry size (grams/berry)
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Black
Blackcomb
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.0
1.1
Black
Cheakamus
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.4
0.8
1.1
Black
Nicola (M12)
1.5
1.4
1.2
1.4
0.9
1.2
Black
Stikine
1.1
1.3
1.1
1.3
0.9
1.1
Black
Tahsis
1.9
1.7
1.6
1.7
1.2
1.5
Black
Titania
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
0.8
1.0
Black
Tofino
1.4
1.1
1.0
1.0
0.8
0.9
Black
Whistler
2.1
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.3
1.5
Red
HRON
no data
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.5
Red
Rovada
no data
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.6
Red
Jonkeer van Tets
no data
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.4
0.4
Table 4. Average sugar (°Bx) at the WARC site.
Type
Cultivar
Sugar (°Bx)
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Black
Blackcomb
16.8
16.8
16.8
17.6
18.8
17.7
Black
Cheakamus
15.5
15.6
14.3
15.2
17.1
15.6
Black
Nicola (M12)
16.0
15.4
14.2
13.6
16.5
16.0
Black
Stikine
16.5
16.5
15.1
14.9
16.4
15.6
Black
Tahsis
15.7
15.4
13.9
15.0
15.1
16.0
Black
Titania
19.3
22.1
19.9
20.0
21.7
17.2
Black
Tofino
14.0
15.2
14.9
16.2
16.5
16.3
Black
Whistler
14.6
14.9
14.3
15.2
15.2
15.3
Red
HRON
no data
11.2
12.0
10.6
11.5
10.4
Red
Rovada
no data
10.7
11.3
9.4
11.1
10.7
Red
Jonkeer van Tets
no data
10.6
10.1
9.9
10.9
9.2

Conclusions

Plant establishment and survival in the first year of the study varied by cultivar and site. Overall, establishment at the WARC site was higher than at the FVCC site. Low survival rates at the FVCC site have been attributed to increased soil surface temperatures due to the use of black weed barrier fabric within the rows. While survival was higher at the WARC site, rates were highly variable. At both sites, establishment and survival were impacted by planting methods and most likely have affected some of the earliest data recorded. However, we are starting to see a reduction in these impacts over time.

At WARC among the black currant cultivars, 'Whistler', 'Nicola', and 'Tahsis' showed the highest yields and produced large, market-quality berries. 'Tofino' commonly had issues with uneven ripening and tended to be more susceptible to cane borer than other cultivars. 'Jonkeer van Tets' is the most productive red currant. However, 'HRON' performance was hampered by high mortality at planting and may show improvement over time. All varieties ripened and were harvested in the third and fourth weeks of July, except for 'Jonkeer van Tets', which ripened in early July.

Cultivars that have performed well in orchards elsewhere in the region are listed below.

High Performance Currant Cultivars

Type
Cultivar
Source
Black
Minaj Smyriou
NDSU-Carrington
Black
Swedish Black
University of Idaho
Black
Titania
NDSU-Carrington
Red
Rosetta
NDSU-Carrington
Red
Tatran
University of Idaho
Red
Wilder
University of Idaho
White
White Imperial
University of Idaho

Low Performance Currant Cultivars

Type
Cultivar
Source
Reason
Black
Ben Sarek
NDSU-Carrington
sour berries, sunburn susceptible
Black
Consort
NDSU-Carrington
bitter berries

Publications and Other Resources

McGinnis Berries—many of the varieties used in these trials were obtained from this nursery

Canopy Farm Management- US nursery for McGinnis Black Currant Varieties

History and varietal info of European black currant—University of Wisconsin

Northern Hardy Fruit Evaluation Project—North Dakota State University-Carrington REC

Growing Currants, Gooseberries, and Jostaberries—University of Idaho Grower Guide

Red Currants in the Garden—Utah State University Extension

Specialty Crop Profile: Currants and Gooseberries—VSU-Virginia Cooperative Extension

Growing Currants and Gooseberries in Montana—Montana State University Extension