TRAINING SYSTEM AND ROOTSTOCK AFFECT YIELD, FRUIT SIZE, FRUIT QUALITY AND CROP VALUE OF SWEET CHERRY

Abstract

A 1999 field trial compared ‘Hedelfingen’, ‘Lapins’, and ‘Sweetheart’ cherry cultivars on Gisela 5, (Gi.5), Gisela 6, (Gi.6) and MxM.2 rootstocks each planted in six cherry training systems (Central Leader-336 trees/ha, Spanish Bush-673 trees/ha, Slender Spindle-897 trees/ha, V-997 trees/ha, Marchant-1,035 trees/ha, and Vertical Axis-1,196 trees/ha). A second 2002 trial compared ‘Lapins’ and ‘Regina’ cultivars on Gi.5, Gi.6, Gi.12 and Mazzard seedling rootstocks each planted in four cherry training systems (Quad Axis-598 trees/ha, Spanish Bush-748 trees/ha, Central Leader-748 trees/ha, and Vertical Axis-997 trees/ha). After 11 years tree size in experiment 1 was smallest with Gi.5, intermediate with Gi.6 and largest with MXM.2. In experiment 2 after 8 years, trees on Gi.5 were the smallest, followed by trees on Gi.6, G.12 and Mazzard which were the largest. Trees on all three Gisela stocks were much more precocious than either MXM2 or Mazzard. Cumulative yield after 11 years with experiment 1 or after 8 years with experiment 2 were highest for trees on Gi.5 followed by Gi.12, Gi.6, Mazzard and MXM.2. With the self fertile cultivars, ‘Sweetheart’ and ‘Lapins’, Gi.5 induced excessive production which resulted in small fruit size. However, with the self infertile cultivar, ‘Regina’, Gi.5 was the only rootstock which induced commercially acceptable high yields of large fruit. Although Gi.12 was a vigorous tree, it had much greater precocity and productivity than Mazzard. Average fruit size was largest on Gi.12 and Gi.6, intermediate on MXM.2 or Mazzard and smallest on Gi.5. Among training systems, the Vertical Axis system had the highest cumulative yield per hectare followed by the V, the Slender Spindle, the Spanish Bush, the Quad Axis, the Marchant, and the Central Leader. Cumulative yields largely reflected density. Fruit size was largest with the Central Leader, Quad Axis and Spanish Bush, intermediate with the Slender Spindle and Marchant system and smallest with the V and the Vertical Axis. Fruit soluble solids were highest with the Central Leader and Quad Axis and lowest with the Spanish Bush and the Marchant. Cumulative crop value was highest for the V in experiment 1 and for the Vertical Axis in experiment 2.