Cherry Cultivars Research Articles

Comparative Assessment of Kernel Chemical Properties from Six Sweet Cherry Cultivars at Four Ripening Stages

Comparative Assessment of Kernel Chemical Properties from Six Sweet Cherry Cultivars at Four Ripening Stages

Characterization of self-incompatibility genotypes in 48 sweet cherry cultivars and 21 promising hybrids bred in the Balkan region

Characterization of self-incompatibility genotypes in 48 sweet cherry cultivars and 21 promising hybrids bred in the Balkan region

Postpacking Sweet Cherry Stem and Fruit Quality Attributes Influenced by Cultivar

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium) destined for traveling to export markets must retain fruit and stem quality for 2 to 5 weeks postharvest. This 2-year study evaluated commercially sorted and packed sweet cherry cultivars (Chelan, Black Pearl, Bing, Regina, Skeena) fruit and stem quality outcomes following 4 weeks of storage at −0.6 ± 0.5 °C or 4.4 ± 0.5 °C in modified atmosphere (MA) bags. Cultivar-specific influences on physiochemical quality outcomes included pedicel fruit retention force, fruit firmness, color, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity at 4 weeks postharvest. A comparison of quality attribute changes within each lot between the initial evaluation and 4 weeks postharvest indicated that color and firmness changed with regard to cultivar, with Skeena having the least change in firmness and Bing undergoing the most darkening. Many visual attributes, including stem weight-to-length ratio (an indicator of thickness or desiccation), stem retention, fruit cracking, pitting, and pebbling, were not statistically influenced by cultivar, indicating that in a commercial setting, lot-to-lot differences in horticultural, harvest, and packing management influence stem and fruit quality outcomes as much as cultivar. Stems with the distal end removed by packinghouses’ cluster-cutter had lower stem weight-to-length ratios than those of stems that did not have their ends removed, indicating that this aspect of packing leads to desiccation of cut stems. Packinghouse (four in 2023 and five in 2024) did not statistically influence fruit or stem quality. Respiration rates differed among cultivars, with Black Pearl exhibiting the lowest and Regina exhibiting the highest; overall respiration rates were higher at 4.4 °C. There were significant (P < 0.05) but weak (approximately Spearman r2 = 0.50) correlations between respiration rates at 1 week and fruit quality attributes at 4 weeks postharvest [increased loss of stems, decrease in pitting and pebbling incidence, and a change in a* (red/green fruit color component derived from colorimeter instrumentation)]. In a multivariate analysis, ‘Black Pearl’ and ‘Chelan’ lots stored at −0.6 °C typically were closest to an “ideal” lot of sweet cherries. Understanding cultivar-specific quality attributes as well as the impact of management decisions can aid in new planting choices, strategic planning in packinghouses, and proactive treatment to mitigate quality loss.

Impact of Pseudomonas syringae on sweet cherry and plum trees in nurseries and in early-stage sweet cherry orchards

Abstract Bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae is an important disease on stone fruit trees. The development of infections after artificial inoculation of sweet cherry and plum trees in the nursery phase was examined. Furthermore, sweet cherry trees were observed in a nursery and for up to four years after planting in commercial sweet cherry orchards. If inoculated at the time of grafting, this caused near 100% death of the scions. Following inoculation of defeathering wounds, a mean of 52 and 61% of inoculation sites developed bacterial canker on sweet cherry and plum, respectively. Of non-inoculated nursery trees observed as healthy in the autumn, between 20 and 80% had developed visible bacterial cankers after a period of cold storage. In the planting year, a mean of 21% of the trees developed bacterial canker in seven commercial orchards included in the investigation, and by 2–4 years after planting 40% of the trees had symptoms of the disease. All sweet cherry cultivars and rootstocks developed bacterial canker in the commercial orchards. Cultivar Giorgia had the most severe symptoms. Up to 60% replacement of trees within two years after planting was experienced in the orchards.

Feasibility of Little Cherry/X-Disease Detection in Prunus avium Using Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

Little cherry disease (LCD) and X-disease have critically impacted the Pacific Northwest sweet cherry (Prunus avium) industry. Current detection methods rely on laborious visual scouting or molecular analyses. This study evaluates the suitability of field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) for rapid detection of LCD and X-disease infection in three sweet cherry cultivars ('Benton', 'Cristalina', and 'Tieton') at the post-harvest stage. Stem cuttings with leaves were collected from commercial orchards and greenhouse trees. FAIMS operated at 1.5 L/min and 50 kPa, was used for headspace analysis. Molecular analyses confirmed symptomatic and asymptomatic samples. FAIMS data were processed for ion current sum (Isum), maximum ion current (Imax), and area under the curve (IAUC). Symptomatic samples showed higher ion currents in specific FAIMS regions (p < 0.05), with clear differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic samples across compensation voltage and dispersion field ranges. Cultivar-specific variation was also observed in the data. FAIMS spectra for LCD/X-disease symptomatic samples differed from those for asymptomatic samples in other Prunus species, such as peach and nectarines. These findings support FAIMS as a potential diagnostic tool for LCD/X disease. Further studies with controlled variables and key growth stages are recommended to realize early-stage detection.

THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY OF THE COMPONENTS OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN CHERRY FRUITS OF THE VNIISPK BIORESOURCE COLLECTION

Cherry is a culture whose fruits contain biologically active substances, ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, causing therapeutic and preventive properties. The objects of research were the cherry cultivars of the bioresource collection of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK): 25 introduced ones and 38 cultivars bred by the Institute. The goal of the studies was to give the comparative assessment of cherry cultivars of the VNIISPK bioresource collection for the accumulation of biologically active substances in fruits and to identify genotypes with a high level of antioxidant properties. The content of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds (anthocyanins, catechins, leukoanthocyanins and their sum) were determined in the fruits. The average values, diversity limits and variation intervals for each component for both groups of the cultivars were calculated. Genotypes that are of interest for obtaining fresh vitamin products, and sources of high content of biologically active substances have been identified for further use in cherry breeding for improved chemical composition of fruits. When distributing cultivars into groups according to the content of anthocyanins in fruits, it was found that in most cherry cultivars the content of anthocyanins ranged from 100.0 to 300.0 mg/100 g – 64% in the introduced cultivars and 60.5% in the VNIISPK breeding cultivars, while 24.0 and 31.6% of the cultivars, respectively, accumulated more than 300.0 mg/100 g. A number of the cultivars were identified according to the complex of traits that determined the antioxidant activity of the culture: Vladimirskaya and Rastorguevskaya (introduced cultivars); Antratsitovaya, Businka, Vereya, Veteranka, Grechanka, Orleya, Podarok Uchitelyam, Rovesnitsa, Studencheskaya, Kapelka, Kupina, Tikhonovskaya and Shokoladnitsa (VNIISPK breeding cultivars).

Pollen–Pistil Interactions in Autochthonous Balkan Sweet Cherry Cultivars—The Impact of Genotype and Flowering Temperature

The efficacy of sweet cherry production is highly dependent on the regularity of flowering events and genetic-determined relations between female sporophyte and male gametophyte, which became even more important with higher flowering temperatures caused by climate change. Special attention is paid to the genetic diversity that provides essential sources of potential temperature-tolerance genes. Our study aimed at the genetic and reproductive characterization of Balkan cherry cultivars of autochthonous origin (‘Canetova’, ‘G-2’, ‘Dolga Šiška’ and ‘Ohridska Crna’), and six potential pollenizer To identify S-haplotypes, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to detect the S-ribonuclease (S-RNase) and S-haplotype-specific F-box protein (SFB) alleles, combined with fragment analysis and S-RNase sequencing. Pollination experiments were performed at three Balkan localities over two flowering seasons, and the fluorescence microscopy method was used to assess the cultivars’ male/female reproductive behaviour. A novel S-RNase allele S40 was identified in ‘Ohridska Crna’ for the first time. ‘Ohridska Crna’ also demonstrated the best adaptability to higher temperatures regarding primary ovule longevity. This feature makes it desirable from the aspect of breeding new cultivars that can withstand the impacts of climate change. The findings on male-female relations and their temperature dependence open up the possibility for yield prediction and smart horticultural decisions that can be made to guide cherry production.

Quality Characteristics and Color Formation Mechanism of Low Chilling Requirement Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Cultivars in Southeast China

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), renowned for its vibrant color and distinctive flavor, enjoys widespread popularity and is planted in temperate climates. This study investigated four short-chilling requirement cultivars in southeast China, which is known as a subtropical climate region, and determined several key fruit qualities, such as color, size, weight, and nutrient attributes (e.g., vitamin C, soluble sugar, organic acid, protein, gibberellin, and brassinolide) at four maturities due to the climate’s effect on the fruit color and the main color substance: anthocyanin accumulation. Therefore, the color index (a*, b*, and L*) and anthocyanin content were determined, and the anthocyanin-related gene expression was quantitative and analyzed using WGCNA. The results showed that the red variety, ‘Jiangnanhong’, exhibited the highest fruit weight and diameter as well as the greatest concentration of cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C3R). Conversely, the yellow variety, ‘Chaoyang 1’, demonstrated higher L* and b* values along with a greater vitamin C content. The research confirmed that C3R is the predominant anthocyanin present in sweet cherries during ripening. Additionally, three genes—LOC110744862, LOC110749842, and LOC110753376—were identified as playing crucial roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Anthocyanins significantly influence both the visual appeal and nutritional quality of the fruit. These results provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the differences among sweet cherry varieties in southeast China.

Seed-fruit multiomics integration of sweet cherry cultivars with different maturity time shows alternative molecular landscapes at the transition from development to ripening, unveiling a role of small RNAs, SPLs, lignin and inositol pathways

Seed-fruit multiomics integration of sweet cherry cultivars with different maturity time shows alternative molecular landscapes at the transition from development to ripening, unveiling a role of small RNAs, SPLs, lignin and inositol pathways

Impact of substrate pH and micronutrient fertility rates on Cannabis sativa

AbstractMicronutrient accumulation caused by low pH can lead to toxicity and have detrimental impacts on plant growth. In substrates with elevated pH, micronutrients become less available. In the first experiment, industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) growth was less at pH 3.0 and 4.0 than when pH was ≥5.0. Root growth was also observed to be inhibited at low pH levels. Leaf tissue micronutrient concentrations were higher at the lowest pH level, but no toxic accumulation occurred. In experiment 2, root growth had less mass at the lowest pH (3.1) and highest pH level (7.1). In experiment 3, substrates with three target pHs (3.8, 4.8, and 6.5) as well as three micronutrient concentrations (1X, 2X, and 4X) were examined to determine the impact of pH on micronutrient accumulation in two cultivars Cherry Wine (CW) and Sweetened (SW). Foliar micronutrient concentrations were the greatest in plants grown with pH 3.8, and the lowest concentrations occurred in plants grown at pH 6.5. Susceptibility to toxicity from micronutrient accumulation in plant tissue varied by cultivar. SW plants grown at pH 3.8 and 4X micronutrients resulted in lower leaf micronutrient toxicity symptoms, while CW plants grown under the same conditions did not. These studies suggest that C. sativa does not accumulate micronutrients to toxic levels at low pH when micros are applied within normal growing ranges, but that growth is inhibited at substrate pH &lt; 5.0.

Evaluation of Diversity of Newly Bred Czech Sweet Cherry Cultivars in Extensive Plantations

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is an economically important and profitable stone fruit species grown in the temperate and subtropical climates, bearing fruits with unique flavour and nutritional benefits. There is also a long tradition of sweet cherry breeding in the Czech Republic. We report here the evaluation of economically important fruit and vegetative characters in 27 sweet cherry cultivars grown in the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology (RBIP) in the genebank plantation. The cultivars were evaluated phenotypically using standard descriptors for sweet cherries. Established cultivars ‘Burlat’ (early ripening) and ‘Kordia’ (late ripening) were included in the study as commercial standards. The cultivar ‘Früheste der Mark’ was used as the earliest cultivar of the sweet cherry season. The results presented in this study demonstrate the high diversity of the analyzed sweet cherry germplasm. The cultivars ‘Horka’, ‘Justyna’, and ‘Sandra’ stood out in terms of fruit size and taste quality. The evaluated newly bred Czech sweet cherry cultivars are broadly described at the end of the presented paper.

Fruit Quality and Production Parameters of Some Bitter Cherry Cultivars

Bitter cherries (Prunus avium var. sylvestris Ser.) represent a valuable raw material in the traditional Eastern European food industry with high potential within the horticultural chain and circular economy in the context of global food security due to exceptional nutritional properties. The present study was carried out in the period 2022–2024 and had as its main purpose the evaluation of the fruit quality and production indices of some bitter cherry cultivars suitable for the technological norms specific to industrial processing. Five bitter cherry cultivars (C1-Amaris, C2-Amar Maxut, C3-Amar Galata, C4-Silva, C5-Amara) were studied and analyzed in terms of fruit quality—morpho-physiological and organoleptic traits, and physical and chemical parameters—and general productivity—tree vigor, fruiting, and yield indices. The results highlighted a wide variability in the physical characteristics of bitter cherries, with an average weight between 3.3 and 4.9 g and the color of the skin varying from yellow with redness to dark red and blackish. Regarding the chemical attributes, antioxidant activity was relatively higher in fruits with a more intense bitter taste (89.3 μg Trolox·g−1 f.w for C2 and 89.1 μg Trolox·g−1 f.w. for C4 and C5), a fact also found in the content total of polyphenols (with a maximum value of 743.2 mg GAE·100 g−1 f.w at C2). Total soluble solids content had an average value of 20.51°Brix and titratable acidity of 0.85 g malic acid·100 g−1 f.w. The influence of local environmental factors on the productivity of bitter cherry cultivars was highlighted by significant statistical differences (p &lt; 0.05) between cultivars. Thus, the resistance to frost in the full flowering phenophase had an average value of 86.69%, and regarding the resistance to fruit cracking, the highest percentage was found in C1, with 99.79% unaffected fruits. The productivity index per tree had an average value of 0.24 kg per cm2 trunk cross-section area. The physico-chemical properties of the fruits and the productivity of bitter cherry cultivars support the possibility of their efficient use in processing and the food industry, yielding high-quality products with nutraceutical value.

Population sequencing of cherry accessions unravels the evolution of Cerasus species and the selection of genetic characteristics in edible cherries

Cerasus is a subgenus of Prunus in the family Rosaceae that is popular owing to its ornamental, edible, and medicinal properties. Understanding the evolution of the Cerasus subgenus and identifying selective trait loci in edible cherries are crucial for the improvement of cherry cultivars to meet producer and consumer demands. In this study, we performed a de novo assembly of a chromosome-scale genome for the sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivar ‘Burlat’, covering 297.55 Mb and consisting of eight chromosomes with 33,756 protein-coding genes. The resequencing and population structural analysis of 384 Cerasus representative accessions revealed that they could be divided into four groups (Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4). We inferred that Group 1 was the oldest population and Groups 2, 3, and 4 were clades derived from it. In addition, we found selective sweeps for fruit flavor and improved stress resistance in different varieties of edible cherries (P. avium, P. cerasus, and P. pseudocerasus). Transcriptome analysis revealed significant differential expression of genes associated with key pathways, such as sucrose starch and sucrose metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, and the pentose phosphate pathway, between the leaves and fruits of P. avium. This study enhances the understanding of the evolutionary processes of the Cerasus subgenus and provides resources for functional genomics research and the improvement of edible cherries.

Cracking susceptibility of full-sibs of a cross of a cracking tolerant and cracking susceptible sweet cherry: Relation to cuticle characteristics, microcracking and calcium

Rain cracking compromises quality and quantity of sweet cherries worldwide. Cracking susceptibility differs among genotypes. The objective was to (1) phenotype the progeny of a cross between a tolerant and a susceptible sweet cherry cultivar for cuticle mass per unit area, strain release on cuticle isolation, cuticular microcracking and calcium/dry mass ratio and (2) relate these characteristics to cracking susceptibilities evaluated in laboratory immersion assays and published multiyear field observations. Mass of the dewaxed cuticle per unit area and strain release upon cuticle isolation were significantly related to cracking susceptibility in lab or field. Cuticular microcracking in the stylar end region as indexed by infiltration with acridine orange was more severe in susceptible than in tolerant genotypes and significantly correlated with susceptibility to cracking in lab and field. The Ca/dry mass ratio was lower (-8%) for susceptible than for tolerant genotypes. Fruit that cracked early had less Ca than those that cracked later. Only the Ca/dry mass ratio of the stylar end region was significantly correlated with cracking susceptibility in the field. Based on stepwise regression analyses microcracking of the cuticle accounted for most of the cracking susceptibilities in field and lab (partial r2 = 0.331 to 0.338 for field vs. r2 = 0.326 to 0.453 for lab). The variability in cracking susceptibility accounted for increased to a r2 = 0.571 (lab) when adding mass of dewaxed cuticle, up to r2 = 0.421 (field) when adding the Ca/dry mass ratio in the stylar end region or up to r2 = 0.478 (field) when entering the strain release on isolation into the model. A protocol for phenotyping is suggested that allows larger progenies to be phenotyped for microcracking, DCM mass and strain release.

Enhancing Cracking Resistance and Post-Harvest Quality of Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium L.) Through Calcium and Potassium-Based Foliar Treatments

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly valued fruit crop in Italy, but its production is challenged by environmental stresses, particularly rain-induced cracking, which significantly affects yield and quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of foliar applications of calcium and potassium salts in reducing cracking and enhancing the overall quality and shelf-life of the sweet cherry cultivar “Regina”. The experiment was conducted in a commercial orchard in Piedmont, Italy, where the foliar application was studied across various parameters, including shoot growth, fruit yield, cracking incidence, and post-harvest quality during a 14-day storage period at 2 °C and 75% RH. Results showed that foliar treatments improved vegetative growth and increased the proportion of marketable fruit within the desirable Ø 28 mm size category. Moreover, treated fruits exhibited reduced cracking, reduced weight loss, and higher firmness during storage. Antioxidant activity and anthocyanin content were also better preserved in treated cherries since the day of the harvest. These findings indicate that foliar applications of macro- and micro-nutrients can mitigate cracking and improve the post-harvest performance of sweet cherries, providing a practical strategy to increase both yield and fruit quality in regions with adverse weather conditions.

Alleviation of hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress by fruit extracts of different cultivars of the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L. and Cornus mas × Cornus officinalis) in rats with diabetes mellitus.

The development of new cornelian cherry cultivars with stronger antidiabetic properties than those of previously studied Cornus mas L. extracts is essential. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to assess the biological effects of fruit extracts derived from the 'Uholok' and 'Koralovyi' cultivars of C. mas and mix of two hybrids of C. mas × C. officinalis ('Jerzy' and 'Tomasz' cultivars) in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. The quantitative and qualitative identification of bioactive substances in cornelian cherry fruits was conducted using HPLC-PDA. Fruit extracts from different cultivars were administered orally to rats with diabetes for 14 days at a dose of 20 mg per kg b.w. This resulted in a notable decrease in glucose-related parameters in the blood, proving the extracts' effectiveness as inhibitors of α-glucosidase activity. The fruit extract from the hybrids showed the most pronounced effect among the studied extracts with regard to these indicators. In addition, the fruit extracts demonstrated a positive corrective impact on the metabolites of glycolysis (pyruvate and L-lactate) and lactate dehydrogenase activity. The extracts produced antioxidant effect in diabetic rats by reducing oxidative stress biomarkers in plasma. Extracts from fruits of the 'Uholok' and 'Koralovyi' cultivars exhibited a higher efficiency than the extracts from C. mas 'Yantarnyi' and 'Flava' cultivars. The biological effects of the fruit extract from the 'Uholok' cultivar are comparable to those of the 'Podolski' cultivar. These findings contribute to the understanding of the antidiabetic effect of the studied extracts and indicate their potential application as promising drugs.

Pseudomonas syringae Pathovar syringae Infection Reveals Different Defense Mechanisms in Two Sweet Cherry Cultivars

Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae is the main causal agent of bacterial canker in sweet cherry in Chile, causing significant economic losses. Cultivars exhibit diverse susceptibility in the field and the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential responses remain unclear. RNA-seq analysis was performed to characterize the transcriptomic response in cultivars Santina and Bing (less and more susceptible to P. syringae pv. syringae, respectively) after 1 and 7 days post-inoculation (dpi) with the bacterium. Symptoms of bacterial canker became evident from the fifth day. At 1 dpi, cultivar Santina showed a faster response to infection and a larger number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than cultivar Bing. At 7 dpi, cultivar Bing almost doubled its DEGs, while cultivar Santina tended to the normal DEG levels. P. syringae pv. syringae infection downregulated the expressions of key genes of the photosynthesis process at 1 dpi in the less susceptible cultivar. The results suggest that the difference in susceptibility to P. syringae pv. syringae is linked to the timeliness of pathogen recognition, limiting the bacteria’s dispersion through modeling its cell wall, and regulation of genes encoding photosynthesis pathway. Through this study, it has been possible to progress the knowledge of relevant factors related to the susceptibility of the two studied cherry cultivars to P. syringae pv. syringae.

Oviposition Preference and Developmental Performance of Drosophila suzukii on Different Cherry Cultivars.

Drosophila suzukii is a major pest of sweet cherries. In this study, we evaluated its oviposition preferences across six cherry cultivars and assessed the effects of the fruit traits on its growth and development. Significant differences in the color, firmness, and sugar content were observed among the cultivars and ripeness stages. The highest oviposition rates were recorded for the "Hongdeng" (HD) and "Burlat" (BLT) cultivars in both the non-choice (HD: 31.9 ± 2.0 eggs/cherry; BLT: 31.3 ± 1.9 eggs/cherry) and choice (HD: 32.4 ± 3.2 eggs/cherry; BLT: 27.6 ± 1.9 eggs/cherry) tests, largely influenced by the fruit color. While the developmental parameters showed slight variation across the cultivars, significant differences were observed in the pupation rates (ranging from 0.80 to 0.89) and survival rates (ranging from 0.51 to 0.62), with both parameters being the highest for the "Hongdeng" cultivar. The correlation analysis revealed that a darker fruit color-characterized by lower lightness (L*), lower chromaticity (b*), and a higher color index for red grapes (CIRG)-positively influenced the oviposition and pupation rates. Although the other correlations were not significant, the oviposition and developmental parameters were positively correlated with sweetness and negatively correlated with firmness. These findings enhance our understanding of how cherry traits influence D. suzukii behavior, providing critical insights for pest management strategies in cherry production.

Ecophysiological aspects of some sweet cherry cultivars from the North-East of Romania

The sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly valuable fruit tree crop, highly appreciated by consumers. Its cultivation requires smaller amounts of water than other fruit trees (Montiel et al. 2010) , which is an important factor in areas where water is often a limiting factor for production. The sweet cherry tree is a rustic fruit crop which finds optimal conditions in Romania to manifest its agrobiological potential (Iurea et al. 2019 ). The agroclimatic projection for the coming years is expected to show that there will be an increase in the average temperature with drought events occurring in the phenological stages of high evapotranspiration demand, irregular precipitation and a decrease in the groundwater availability of fruit crops (Blaya Ros et al. 2020; Bhattacharjee et al. 2022) . In Romania, there are areas where there has been a linear increase in the average annual temperature from 10.5 °C in 2005 to 12.4 °C (2007 and 2012). Compared to the average temperature of the period

Endophytic bacterial community dynamics in sweet cherry in vitro shoot culture and their role in shoot adaptation after cryopreservation

BackgroundIn vitro cultivation and cryopreservation techniques are essential tools for genetic diversity conservation and pathogen-free plant propagation of horticultural crops. The optimisation of cryopreservation protocols typically focuses on minimising the negative effects of pretreatment with cryoprotectors (CPs), cryogenic freezing (CF) treatment, and recovery procedures on explants. However, the impact of in vitro and CF techniques on plant-associated microbiota remains poorly understood, and their potential to improve plant adaptation after cryopreservation is underexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro shoot culture and cryopreservation-induced changes in the endophytic bacterial diversity of two sweet cherry cultivars and to assess the potential of an inoculum of bacterial isolates to improve the growth of shoot culture after CF.ResultsCultivars ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Mindaugė’ showed different responses to cold hardening preconditioning as well as different survival and regrowth rates after cryopreservation. Metataxonomic analysis revealed variation in the abundance and taxonomic composition of bacteria assigned to 35 families in samples of field-grown tree leaves, dormant buds, and in vitro shoot culture before and after CF treatment. Bacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria were predominant in the leaf samples of both cultivars. For ‘Sunburst’, Pseudomonadaceae and Sphingomonadaceae bacteria were dominant in dormant buds and in vitro shoots, respectively, while Burkholderiaceae was largely predominant in the shoots following CF treatment. Conversely, ‘Mindaugė’ tissues exhibited more consistent colonisation by Bacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae across the experimental groups, except for in vitro shoots where Mycobacteriaceae prevailed. A pure bacterial isolate inoculum was applied to the ‘Mindaugė’ shoot culture to counter the CF treatment-induced suppression of shoot growth (~ 40%). Cocultivation with Brevibacterium sp. S1-2, Bacillus cereus S1-3, or B. toyonensis Nt18 increased the shoot leaf area from 48 to 75%.ConclusionsThis study revealed that endophytic bacterial diversity is significantly reduced under in vitro conditions, often leading to a genotype-specific increase in the abundance and dominance of bacteria attributed to a single bacterial family. Moreover, shoot cocultivation with endophytic bacterial isolates has potential for improving the recovery of in vitro shoots after cryopreservation.