Abstract
The cherry rootstock influences the performance of the scion cultivar. It has an effect on cherry fruit quality, tree growth, yield and yield efficiency and floral and foliar nutrition. In this work, the influence of Saint Lucie 64 and Maxma 60 rootstocks on the fruit quality traits of cv. Early Bigi was evaluated. For this, several parameters, namely fruit weight (FW) and size (FS), soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), flesh firmness (FF), epidermis rupture force (ERF), color and sensory profile, were assessed. Results showed that the fruits from trees on Saint Lucie 64 presented higher FF and ERF values and, consequently, better texture. On the other hand, fruits from trees on Maxma 60 showed sweeter cherries (higher SSC). Moreover, these trees presented the darkest cherries (lower values of L*, a*, b*, C* and hue°) and the highest SSC. Therefore, although the trees on Saint Lucie 64 produced firmer cherries, it was those with the Maxma 60 rootstock that produced sweeter and darker fruits. In conclusion, both scion–rootstock combinations proved to be good options for the region of Resende.
Highlights
The sweet cherry tree (Prunus avium L.) belongs to the Rosaceae family and is a crop of great economic importance [1]
Studies involving the selection of the best scion–rootstock combination for each region are very important
The differences between trees grafted on Saint Lucie 64 clone (SL 64) and Maxma 60 rootstocks were more evident in maturity, chromatic and texture parameters rather than in biometric attributes
Summary
The sweet cherry tree (Prunus avium L.) belongs to the Rosaceae family and is a crop of great economic importance [1]. Sweet cherry consumption has an anti-inflammatory [13,14], antioxidant and antitumor activity [9,15] helping to lower blood pressure, control body weight and diabetes and prevent Alzheimer’s disease [16]. The worldwide growing interest in this culture and for quality cherries has led to significant improvements in their production and marketing over time [17]. There are several rootstocks for cherries worldwide from different breeding programs. These have focused mainly on improving certain characteristics, such as yield, nutritional content, flowering and ripening time [1], taste, fruit size, firmness and color, precocity and resistance to fruit cracking and diseases [18], which led to the appearance of a large number of sweet cherry rootstocks [1]
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