Variety Avatar

Avatar (also Sweet Sapphire, Moon Drops, “Black Sapphire”) is a seedless table variety from the American company International Fruit Genetics (Bakersfield, California; Beita Mouni × C22-121). It ripens in the mid-season: in California harvest falls at the end of August or the beginning of September, and in our conditions the sources give about 130–150 days. The cluster is medium, conical, moderately loose, usually about 1 kg (500–1000 g and more), about 30 cm long. The berries are elongated, with a characteristic dimple at the end, dark blue, almost black, up to 4–5 cm long and about 2 cm wide, 7–10 g, uniform in size. The flesh is very firm, crisp and translucent, the skin thin (by other data, firm and tannic), the taste harmonious and very sweet; sugar content about 19.4%, acidity 3.9 g/dm³. Seedlessness is complete, with only small unnoticeable rudiments.

The bush is vigorous or medium-vigorous, the flower is hermaphroditic, pollination is good. Yields are medium, and the berries tolerate transport and long storage well. Frost resistance is low (about −19…−22 °C), so the vine must be covered for winter; disease resistance is below medium, and preventive treatments against downy and powdery mildew are needed.