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[R] Ribes nigrum L. (Grossulariaceae).
Fr: Cassissier; Ge: Schwarze Johannisbeere; Pt: Cassis; Sp: Grosellero negro; It: Ribes nero.
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- A bushy, perennial shrub that may attain 1.5 m in height, especially widespread in colder regions, in Germany, England and France. Insects are the chief means of pollinisation.
The fruits (black currants) are small, black, spherical berries aranged in racemes (*) essentially used to make jams, jellies, syrups or liqueurs.
- Black currant bushes are planted in winter and are regularly pruned in order to maintain a bushy shape and to encourage the production of large fruits.
- Propagation occurs by woody cuttings.
- Flowering occurs in April. The harvest starts at the beginning of the 2nd year. A plantation may produce for 10 to 15 years.
- Knowledge of the phenological stages permits a more logical approach to pest and disease management (*) .
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- Diseases: these are the same as for other kinds of Ribes: American gooseberry mildew (Sphaerotheca mors-uvae) and decay and dieback due to Ribes (Phomopsis ribis) are responsible for serious damage.
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- Principal European pests: the San José scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus) and the West Indian peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) form crusts on the branches as do the brown scale (Eulecanium corni) and the peach scale . The black currant gall mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis) deforms the buds.
The leaves are eaten by larvae of the black currant sawfly Nematus olfasciens (Hym., Tenthredinidae), of Pristiphora pallipes (Lepeletier) (same family), and the magpie moth, Abraxas grossulariata (L.) (Lep., Geometridae).
The permanent currant aphid (Aphis schneideri), the black currant aphid, Cryptomyzus galeopsidis (Kaltenbach) (Hom., Aphididae), and the rose tortrix moth (Archips rosana) deform the leaves. The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) colonizes the undersides of leaves.
Finally, the winter moth (Operophtera brumata) damages the leaves and fruits. The blue tit (Parus coeruleus) may eat the buds during the winter.

[R] Images

* Black-currant bush bough (Minost C.)
a: eaf simple, 3-5 lobes, aromatic; b: raceme of small black berries (black-currants).

* Black-currant bush phenological stages (Minost C.)
C1: 1st unfold leaf; D: Inflorescence conspicous, forming a compact dome; E1: 1st bud open; F1: 1st flower open; F3: 100% flowers are open; I1: 1st fruit set; I3: 100% fruits are set.

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HYPPZ on line: Species (scientific names), Pests (common names), Glossary, Crops.

HYP3 : HYPP Phytopathology.

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