Abstract
The study’s objective was to evaluate the influence of thinning on the quality and regularity of yield of ‘Regina’ cherries grown on a dwarf Gisela 5 rootstock. The experiments were conducted in the years 2009–2012 in Western Poland. Trees were thinned using a chemical agent, ammonium thiosulphate (ATS), at doses of 20 g ATS L−1, 30 g ATS L−1 and 40 g ATS L−1, and by hand, and the results of chemical and hand thinning were compared with those obtained for unthinned trees. The course of weather conditions in winter and during flowering had a significant impact on yield. Chemical thinning is known to be an effective method to regulate fruiting of pome trees, but it can also be successful if applied to cherry trees, as reflected by the alternate bearing index, which was the lowest after applying ATS at a dose of 40 g. ATS treatment improved fruit quality in full crop years. Thinning resulted in, among other things, larger and darker fruit and higher content of total soluble solids and titratable acidity. Treatment with 40 g ATS L−1 significantly stimulated the vegetative growth of trees.
Highlights
Sweet cherries are among fresh fruits that have been experiencing a global growth in production and trade [1]
Yield variability was caused by low temperatures during flowering and fruit set
Cherry trees are sensitive to bacterial canker [64,65] and mechanical thinning may significantly increase the risk of canker infection as a result of mechanical damage to leaves and shoots
Summary
Sweet cherries are among fresh fruits that have been experiencing a global growth in production and trade [1]. According to 2017 data, global cherry production was 2,443,407 t (FAOSTAT). And Spain are the largest cherry producers in Europe, while. In Poland, cherry production is about 20,000 t per year, and is increasing due to the intensification of fruit growing. The use of dwarf rootstocks in the cultivation of cherries contributes to the intensification of production [2,3]. It increases productivity per area unit, but often leads to a deterioration in fruit quality [4]. Trees that produce too much fruit due to the limited supply of carbohydrates and nutrients produce small fruit with a low firmness [9]
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