Abstract
The aim of this paper was to study the influence of low vigor rootstocks on the 'Regina' cherry cultivar. The study was conducted at Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Arges county, Romania between 2019 and 2021. A bifactorial experiment was set up, with A factor-the rootstock ('Gisela 3', 'Gisela 5', 'Gisela 12' and 'Weigi 2') and B factor-the study year (2019, 2020 and 2021). Fruiting and vegetative growth data (fruit production, the trunck cross-section area-TCSA, the annual increase of TCSA, the productivity index and the ratio between the fruit production and the annual increase of TCSA), as well as fruit quality data (fruit mass, firmness, pH, total soluble content, chromatic coordinates of epicarp color and chlorophyll fluorescence) were collected. 'Gisela 5' rootstock recorded the highest value of TCSA annual increase (11.46 kg/cm2) and had also the highest cromatic coordinates values: colour brightness (25.68), red pigment (15.61) and yellow content (4.12).The highest vigor of the cultivar 'Regina' was observed in 'Weigi 2' rootstock variant (with an TCSA value of 44.71 cm2), given that 'Weigi 2' TCSA annual increase was similar to 'Gisela 5'. 'Gisela 3' rootstock stood out for its fruit highest pH (3.97), fruit yield (13.51 t/ha), lowest vigor (TCSA=24.19 cm2), smallest annual TCSA increase (6.11 cm2), highest productivity index 0.219 kg/cm2) and highest fruit production to annual TCSA increase ratio (1.79 kg/cm2). Taking into account climatic accidents that marked the spring of 2021, on the average of the study years, the cultivar 'Regina' grafted on the rootstock 'Gisela 12' was distinguished by fruit weight (10.02 g), firmness (66.53 units HPE Bareiss) and TSS (16.03°Brix) on the background of the lowest fruit yield. A negative very signifficant correlation between fruit yield and fruit quality traits (weight, firmness and total soluble solids) was found.
Highlights
Cherry cultivation is a horticultural branch of great interest, due to the special organoleptic fruit qualities, beneficial to human health compounds content, and through its early fruiting (May-June), compared to other species
The most vigorous trees were those grafted on the 'Weigi 2' rootstock (44.71 cm[2] TCSA), with a large annual increase in TCSA, althought no significantly different compared to 'Gisela 5'
'Regina' cultivar grafted on 'Gisela 12' rootstock was distinguished by its fruit quality: weight (10.02 g), firmness (66.53 HPE Bareiss units) and total soluble solids (TSS) (16.03°Brix)
Summary
Cherry cultivation is a horticultural branch of great interest, due to the special organoleptic fruit qualities, beneficial to human health compounds content, and through its early fruiting (May-June), compared to other species. The new generations of rootstocks allow to reduce the planting distances (increasing the planting density) and the high of the trees (cultivars). Each of these rootstocks, suitable for modern cultivation technologies, can provide additional features to the cultivar: precocity, early maturity, productivity, low vegetative growth, resistance to diseases and pests, adaptability to pedological conditions and constantly changing climatic factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate fruit quality, productivity and vegetative growth in the 'Regina' cultivar grafted on low vigor rootstocks 'Gisela 3', 'Gisela 5', 'Gisela 12' and 'Weigi 2' in the conditions of Arges county (South) Romania
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