German Sea Buckthorn Variety Report

Note: Added Seabuckthorn Honey Mustard Recipe in Seabuckthorn Recipe Cookbook (condiment section)

Breeding  varieties of sea-buckthorn in Germany

Hippophae rhamnoides L. - Leikora

In early 1970, a breeding station in Berlin began with the selection of high yielding sea buckthorn clones suitable for commercial cultivation. The starting materials were used for breeding purposes were mainly wild species  of Hippophae rhamnoides L. found in coastal areas of northern Germany. This work resulted in 5 standard female varieties which have been successful around the world. 

The first came in 1979.  Leikora is a late maturing variety which is characterized by large fruit, relatively high content of vitamin C and significant amounts of oil. However, it holds the fruit on the plant very strongly, thereby making harvesting difficult. Additionally, when the fruit laden branches re cut during harvest, two years are required before fruit is again available for harvest.

A medium early maturing variety  Hergé  came to market in 1983. It has a significantly lower fruit holding power and produces a very high yield. Hergé has an increased need for water.  A few years  Frugana,  Asko ®  and  Dorana ® came to market.  Frugana and  Asko ®  are have strong growth and ripen approximately the same time.  Asko ®  has a particularly high content of fruit acids.  Dorana ®  provides plenty of vitamin C, but its growth is relatively weak, it is less suitable for commercial cultivation, but it is very suitable for hobby cultivation and small gardens is useful as an ornamental plant.

Given that sea-buckthorn is dioecious plant, which requires pollinator to pollinate it, four clones have been developed as suitable pollinators. They have been named Pollmix ®.   Pollmix 1 ® blooms early (good for Orange Energy, Sirola, Frugana).  Pollmix 2 +4  ® bloom mid March until May (good for Leikora and Hergo). Late flowering clone, Pollmix 3 ® blooms days after Pollmix 1 ® (good for Hergo and Leikora)   Pollmix 5 ®  has a very early flowering date and low spination.  Planning a mix of male pollinators is a good practice.  

In 1980, two new varieties Habego ® (Orange Energy TM)and  brimstone ® were introduced. Both varieties have been tested for many years at several sites for its performance and suitability for commercial cultivation.  They have shown excellent results. 

Habego ®, which was launched in 2005  under the trade brand name Orange Energy TM, originated from a cross Leikora x Pollmix 2 .  It grows very strongly with good side branching. It fruits well and has few thorns.  Fruits are large (100 pieces = 51 g), oblong oval, at full maturity will turn to brilliant orange. It has excellent color and fruit stability, it contains high amounts of these valuable active ingredients:

• Total acidity: 3.1 to 3.6%
• ascorbic acid (vitamin C): 149 - 289mg / 100 g fresh mass
• carotene: from 11.8 to 17.7 mg / 100 g fresh mass
• tocopherol (vitamin E): 18.9 mg / 100 g fresh mass
• total fat content: 4.9 to 6.3%

Variety Habego ® recovers well from cutting the fruit laden branches and crops again after two years.  It is a beautiful ornamental plant. Suitable pollinators are Pollmix pollinators.

The new variety 'Sirola® is early and from a cross between the varieties from the Siberian Altai region x Pollmix.  It has an upright growth, and has few thorns and side shoots. The fruit ripens in early August They are large (100 pieces = 52 g), oval, the color is red-orange.The fruits are easily plucked from the branches and have a sweet flavor.

• ascorbic acid (vitamin C): 127 - 181mg / 100 g fresh mass
• carotene: from 7.8 to 23.9 mg / 100 g fresh mass
• Total fat: 5.1%
• Since the early blooms, requires almost rosaceous pollen as Pollmix Pollmix 1 and 5 ®.

Breeder's objectives:  in 1971, breeding was aimed at: a high performance, thick fruit pedicel, fruit size, high in fruit acids and ascorbic acid, good resilience after cutting, low spination and shorter overall height. After several years of experience breeding objectives are extended to: oil content, carotene and tocopherol content, and the ability to produce fruits which are not strongly attached to branches so the development of new methods for fruit harvest can advance.

Today's requirements for variety:  stable and high yield, good taste, ability to regenerate after pruning, healthy plants (wilting) and extend the harvest season.

Future breeding:  looking for varieties with improved characteristics, individual choice and regional types of cloning, depending on the success of comprehensive qualifying examination, the presence of regional genotypes and a high degree of specialization, possibly selection from crosses of upland types of coastal types Hippophae rhamni. L. ssp. Hippophae fluviatilis x rhamni. L. ssp. maritima.

Variety / year launch	Importance for commercial cultivation	Behavior
Leikora 1979	very suitable 3 yr. cycle yield strong erect growth compact plant harder picking	late ripening time, very attractive fruit stick, high color stability, good taste, vit.C content of 240 mg%, the oil content of 4.9%
Hergé 1983	very suitable 2.The cycle yield moderate growth requires good quality soil and irrigation	medium-early ripening time after Askole, very high yields, with the possibility of shaking fruits harvested
Frugana 1986	almost all cultivated	early period of ripening, very outstanding in the field
Dorana 1990	inappropriate - suitable for hobby growing, weak growth needs good soil conditions	medium-early ripening time, poor resilience with regular trimming, high vit.C 340mg%
Asko 1990	very suitable 2 yr cycle yield very good upright growth slightly branched	early ripening period total acidity 5.3%, high vitamin E
Habego Orange Energy (TM) 2005	very suitable 2yr cycle yield strong growth with good side branching small spines	medium-early maturing before Leikora, high yields and high color stabile fruits, carotene 15mg%, oil 5.4%, high in vitamin E
Sirola 2005	inappropriate - suitable for hobby growing moderate upright growth  and little thorns side shoots	early period of ripening, fruits are red-orange in color, higher sugar content, rich fruit stick, easy to pick

Sea-buckthorn - growing data 

scored 9 = excellent, 5 = medium, 1 = very bad

Variety	Time of ripening	Growth	Shape crown	Revenues	Suitability for commercial cultivation	Orna-mental value	Suitability for reproduction
ASKO	early	strong	erect	9	9	8	9
Dorana	medium early	weak	widely-spherical	8	7	9	5
Frugana	Early	strong	erect	8	8	5	9
Hergé	medium early	moderate	Oval-spreading	9	9	5	9
Leikora	late	strong	Oval-spreading	8	9	9	9
Orange enegy	medium early	very strong	upright	9	9	9	9
Sirola	very early	strong	upright	8	9	5	7

Sea-buckthorn - characteristics of fruits
fruits Hair: 9 = no, 5 = medium, 1 = very strong

Variety	Size fruits g/100 berries	Color of fruits	Hair fruits	Acidity %	Vitamin C mg/100g	Carotene mg/100g	Oil content %
ASKO	29	Orange	5	5.3	269	12.0	3.7
Dorana	25	Orange	7	4.9	340	6.5	3.4
Frugana	40	light orange	8	3.5	160	9.0	4.1
Hergé	37	light orange	7	3.5	150	5.0	4.3
Leikora	56	dark orange	5	3.4	240	6.0	4.9
Orange enegy	51	Orange	8	3.1	149	17.0	6.3
Sirola	47	red-orange	5	3.1	158	16.9	5.1

reference : http://www.shop.zahradnictvolimbach.sk/%C5%A0%C4%BEachtenie-Rakytn%C3%ADka-re%C5%A1etliakov%C3%A9ho-v-Nemecku#.UUyTWxzCaSo

Oyunbileg writes:  Tom, How many sea buckthorn varieties are there in the world?  Oyunbileg, I don't know for sure.  There is a need for regional varieties such as Autumn Glow in Canada and others are in development all over the world.  I hope to develop a variety which is particularly adaptogenic to the northeast United States.  Thanks for the question! You may be interested in a previous post -- Planting a Seabuckthorn Orchard in Mongolia