Cherry Cultivation Research Articles

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of ‘Burlat’ Sweet Cherry to Pre-Harvest Foliar Application of Calcium and Seaweed Extracts

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly valued fruit, and optimal nutrient management is crucial for enhancing yield and fruit quality. However, the over-application of chemical fertilizers in cherry cultivation leads to environmental issues such as soil degradation and nutrient runoff. To address this, foliar application, a more targeted and eco-friendly fertilization method, presents a promising alternative. This study evaluates the effects of pre-harvest foliar application of calcium (Ca) (150 and 300 g hL−1) and seaweed extracts (75 and 150 mL hL−1), both individually and in combination, on the physiological and biochemical responses of ‘Burlat’ sweet cherry trees. Key physiological parameters, including plant water status, photosynthetic performance, and leaf metabolites, were analyzed. Results show that trees treated with seaweed extracts or with combined Ca and seaweed application had improved water status, higher sugar, starch, and protein content, as well as enhanced antioxidant activity and phenolic content compared to those treated solely with calcium. However, the combined treatment did not significantly enhance overall tree performance compared to individual applications. This study highlights the potential of seaweed-based biostimulants in sustainable cherry production.

Quantifying the Impact of Nitrogen Concentration Variations on Quality Characteristics of Soilless Cultivated Cherry Tomato

Within the domain of macronutrients, nitrogen has garnered significant recognition as a pivotal element due to its profound influence on both the vegetative growth and quality attributes of a crop. An abundance of scientific research has consistently demonstrated that attaining optimal productivity necessitates the meticulous management of soil moisture availability, complemented by the timely provision of nitrogen during critical growth stage intervals. The study aimed to optimize the nitrogen concentration in a hydroponic solution by testing a range of concentrations. The objective was to systematically examine the effects of different nitrogen levels and determine the optimal concentration for the desired outcomes. The assessment was carried out in a meticulously controlled greenhouse environment from October 2019 to April 2021, with the primary objective of systematically investigating the impact on quality characteristics specific to the rosa variety of cherry tomato. To investigate the effects of different nitrogen concentrations, four distinct levels of 4 mM, 6 mM, 8 mM, and 10 mM per litre of nutrient solution were employed. The nitrogen source consisted of a combination of NO3- and NH4+, with a ratio of 40:60, respectively. The nutrient solution with an 8 mM nitrogen concentration exhibited a significantly augmented effect on increasing the equatorial and polar diameter of fruits, average fruit weight, pericarp thickness, as well as the accumulation of total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, lycopene, β-carotene, and total soluble solids (TSS) content. These findings demonstrate the pronounced and positive influence of the 8 mM nitrogen concentration on the aforementioned quality characteristics.

Unraveling Morphological, Physiological, and Transcriptomic Alterations Underlying the Formation of Little Leaves in Phytoplasma-Infected Sweet Cherry Trees.

Phytoplasmas are minute phytopathogenic bacteria that induce excessive vegetative growth, known as witches'-broom (WB), in many infected plant species during the later stages of infection. The WB structure is characterized by densely clustered little (small) leaves, which are frequently accompanied by chlorosis (yellowing). The mechanisms behind the formation of little leaves within WB structures (LL-WB) are poorly understood. To address this gap, the LL-WB formation was extensively studied using sweet cherry virescence (SCV) phytoplasma-infected sweet cherry plants. Based on morphological examinations, signs of premature leaf senescence were observed in LL-WB samples, including reduced leaf size, chlorosis, and alterations in shape. Subsequent physiological analyses indicated decreased sucrose and glucose levels and changes in hormone concentrations in LL-WB samples. Additionally, the transcriptomic analysis revealed impaired ribosome biogenesis and DNA replication. As an essential process in protein production, the compromised ribosome biogenesis and the inhibited DNA replication led to cell cycle arrest, thus affecting leaf morphogenesis and further plant development. Moreover, the expression of marker genes involved in premature leaf senescence was significantly altered. These results indicate a complicated interplay between the development of leaves, premature leaf senescence, and the pathogen-induced stress responses in SCV phytoplasma-infected sweet cherry trees. The results of this study provide insight into understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms driving the formation of little leaves and interactions between plants and pathogens. The findings might help control phytoplasma diseases in sweet cherry cultivation.

Energy utilization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in cherry cultivation

This study was performed with the purpose of shedding light on the energy balance (EB) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of cherry cultivation. It was performed in Gönen district of Isparta province of Türkiye during the 2021 production period. Data related to energy inputs (EI) and outputs (EO) were gathered in cherry cultivation. They were then usaged to reveal the EB and GHG in the process. According to the results of the study, EI in cherry cultivation were 8 141.40 MJ/ha (57.04%) chemical fertilizers energy, 3 575.69 (25.05%) diesel fuel energy, 1 186.02 (8.31%) machinery energy, 469.80 (3.29%) electricity energy, 366.25 (2.57%) human labour energy, 290.30 (2.03%) irrigation water energy, 231.30 (1.62%) chemicals energy and 13.20 MJ/ha (0.09%) lime energy, respectively. Total input energy was computed to be 14 273.96 MJ/ha while output energy was found to be 29 593 MJ/ha. Energy utilization efficiency (EUE), specific energy (SE), energy productivity (EP) and net energy (NE) values were found as 2.07, 1.41 MJ/kg, 0.71 kg/MJ and 15 319.04 MJ/ha, respectively. The total energy inputs that were involved in cherry cultivation were categorized as: 32.94% (4 702.04 MJ/ha) direct (IE), 67.06% (9 571.92 MJ/ha) indirect (IDE), 4.60% (656.55 MJ/ha) renewable (RE) and 95.40% (13 617.41 MJ/ha) non-renewable (NRE). Total GHG emission was computed as 550.71 kgCO2eq/ha for cherry cultivation with the greatest share for diesel fuel (31.82%). GHG ratio value was computed as 0.05 kgCO2eq/kg in cherry cultivation.

Determination of the 15 compounds include both pesticides and plant growth regulators (PGRs) in cherry by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS)

An LC-MS/MS method was developed for the identification of 15 compounds including pesticides and plant growth regulators (PGRs) commonly used in cherry cultivation in three main areas (Shanxi, Shandong, Liaoning) in China. Experimental parameters including the column, extraction solvent, eluent, etc. were investigated and optimized. Thirty cherry samples from Shanxi, Liaoning, and Shandong Provinces were analyzed using LC-MS/MS method described herein and demonstrated linearity in the range of 2–2000 ng mL-1 for the 15 compounds. The recovery of analytes were in the range of 70.9 % − 103.7 %. The relative standard deviations varied between 2.1 % and 8.7 % (n = 5). Experimental results highlight the LC-MS/MS method’s convenience, analysis speed, and feasibility for detection and quantification of the 15 compounds used in cherry cultivation.

Tree performances of eight rootstocks grafted with ‘Šumadinka’ sour cherry

Aim of study: This study was conducted to determine the suitability of seven clonal and one seedling rootstocks for grafting of sour cherry cv. ‘Šumadinka’ trough early tree growth, precocity, productivity and fruit quality. Aim of study: To evaluate the suitability of seven clonal rootstocks and one seedling rootstocks for grafting the sour cherry cv. ‘Šumadinka’ based on early tree development, precocity, productivity and fruit quality. Area of study: A sour cherry orchard in village Prislonica, Serbia, near Čačak city. Material and methods: The sour cherry cultivar ‘Šumadinka’ was grafted onto Colt, MaxMa 14, Krymsk 6, Adara, Cigančica, Gisela 5, Gisela 6 and Myrobalan rootstocks. Standard and validated procedures were used to measure tree growth, productivity (from 2017 to 2020), leaf area, fruit physical properties and fruit chemical composition (from 2019 to 2020). Main results: Significant differences were observed among rootstocks in leaf and petiole dimensions, leaf area, tree vigour, yield, fruit size, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, sugars and vitamin C contents, ripening and sweetness indexes. Trees grafted on Adara exhibited the highest tree vigour, while those on Gisela 6 produced the largest fruit size. On the other hand, Colt trees generally displayed the highest sugar content and sweetness index. Adara also showed improvements in fruit quality characteristics, whereas the properties associated with Myrobalan received the lowest evaluation scores. Research highlights: Adara rootstock demonstrated good adaptability to heavy and acidic soil conditions in Serbia, even though it was originally selected for cherry cultivation in heavy, waterlogged, and calcareous soils in Spain. This adaptability likely contributed to its higher vigour, yield, yield efficiency and good fruit quality.

An update on apple chlorotic leaf spot virus status of sweet cherry in Bulgaria

The sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is one of the most important stone fruit species in Bulgaria. The cherry is susceptible to many viruses. To gain a better insight into the phyto-virologic status of sweet cherry, a survey for the presence of apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), cherry leafroll virus (CLRVR) and raspberry ringspot virus (RpRSV), in addition to ilarviruses, was carried out in 32 commercial and 6 collection orchards in ten regions of Bulgaria between 2017 and 2022. A total of 1503 sweet cherry samples were collected from symptomatic and symptomless trees. These samples were tested by cocktail ELISA for ACLSV and DAS-ELISA for CLRVR, RpRSV ?nd additionally for prune dwarf virus (PDV) and prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) to detect mixed infections. Of the three viruses studied, only ACLSV was detected in commercial and collection sweet cherry orchards in all regions with intensive cherry cultivation in Bulgaria, in addition to ilarviruses. The extent of ACLSV virus infection was 8.8%. Single ACLSV infection was the most common, affecting 79.6% of infected sweet cherry trees, followed by ACLSV and PDV (14.4%) and least frequently by ACLSV and PNRSV (6.0%). The presence of ACLSV in orchards of different ages, including ?young? orchards, indicates that virus-free propagation material must be used when establishing new orchards to prevent the spread of pathogens with the planting material.

Production and economic characteristics of sour cherry cultivation in the Republic of Serbia

Production and economic characteristics of sour cherry cultivation in the Republic of Serbia

Effect of Low-Light Stress on Sugar and Acid Accumulation during Fruit Development and Ripening of Sweet Cherry

In the production process of sweet cherry, there are unreasonable planting densities and tree shape selections. With increasing tree age, the crown of the tree continues to expand and the tree body is prone to canopy closure, which leads to the inability to efficiently use space and light energy. Low-light has become a major limiting factor in the quality of sweet cherry. Therefore, we analyzed the changes of various physiological indicators and the transcriptome of ‘Hongdeng’ sweet cherry under shading treatment in this study to investigate the effects of low-light stress on the photosynthetic characteristics of sweet cherry leaves and fruit physiology and biochemistry. The results showed that shading significantly reduces the light capture capacity of leaves, damages the photosystem, reduces carbon assimilation capacity, and consumes the majority of the captured light energy as photochemical energy, thereby restricting the growth and development of leaves and reducing the accumulation of nutrients in fruits. Shading significantly reduced fruit weight, sugar content, and vitamin C content at maturity and significantly increased acid content. Transcriptomic data demonstrated that low-light stress produces a large number of differential genes related to carbon metabolism, organic acid metabolism, and stress resistance, thereby suggesting that low-light stress may affect the expression of these related genes and inclusions in the fruit. The results of this study will provide theoretical and technical support for the physiological response mechanism of low-light tolerance in sweet cherry, the selection and breeding of low-light tolerant sweet cherry varieties, and the cultivation of sweet cherry in facilities.

Rolul inciziilor la formarea coroanei prin garnisirea axului pomilor de cireș din soiul Grace star pe portaltoiul Gisela 6

The study was carried out in a cherry plantation established in the spring of 2020 in the north of the country. The object of the research was the variety Grace Star at 4.2x1.8 m spacing and grafted on the rootstock Gisela 6. In order to study different secondary technical operations in cherry cultivation, an experiment was organized in spring 2021 with the following gradation: 1. Trees trained as a slender spindle (control); 2. Solitary incision above the buds and treatment of the cut with water; 3. Solitary incision above the buds and treatment of the cut with the growth regulator Progerbalin LG; 4. Circular incisions on the leader at 25-30 cm from each other and treatment of the cut with Progerbalin LG growth regulator; 5. Extirpation of 4-5 axillary buds from top to bottom of the leader while keeping a bud intact. Tree parameters, the number of branches, average and summed branch length, leaf area, branching angle of branches, the number of solitary flower buds and bunches of may were studied during the research. It was established that to increase the branching potential of the leader, when training cherry trees, solitary incisions above the buds and circular incisions at a distance of 25-30 cm on the leader should be applied and treatments of the cut should be performed with the growth regulator Progerbalin LG in the ratio one part of product to 8-10 parts of latex paint.

Photosynthetic pigments and quantum yield of West Indian cherry under salt stress and NPK combinations.

West Indian cherry cultivation has proved to be an important economic activity in northeastern Brazil. However, irrigation with brackish waters limits cultivation, requiring new strategies to minimize the effect of salt stress. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) combinations on the photosynthetic pigments and quantum yield of West Indian cherry cultivated under salt stress, in the second year of production. The assay was conducted in a protected environment by adopting an experimental design in randomized blocks, with treatments distributed in a 2×10 factorial arrangement referring to two electrical conductivity levels of irrigation water - ECw (0.6 and 4.0 dS m-1) and 10 NPK fertilization combinations - FC (80-100-100; 100-100-100; 120-100-100; 140-100-100; 100-80-100; 100-120-100; 100-140-100; 100-100-80; 100-100-120, and 100-100-140% of the recommendation, in the second year of production), with three replications, each consisting of one plant. Irrigation with the electrical conductivity of 4.0 dS m-1 negatively affected the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments and the photochemical efficiency of the West Indian cherry cv. Flor Branca. The NPK combinations did not attenuate the effects of salt stress on the analyzed variables. However, the combinations referring to 120-100-100%, 140-100-100%, and 100-120-100% of NPK recommendation improved the quantum yield of photosystem II by reducing the initial fluorescence and increasing the maximum fluorescence of the West Indian cherry cv. Flor Branca.

Evaluation of control for the management of four pest species (Rhagoletis cerasi L., Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Diptera: Tephritidae), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) and Zaprionus indianus (Gupta) (Diptera: Drosophilidae)) in organic cherry-growing area.

In recent years, the fruit flies Rhagoletis cerasi L., Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Diptera: Tephritidae), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) and Zaprionus indianus (Gupta) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) (Tephritidae and Drosophilidae) have become an increasingly serious problem for cherry production in Turkey, which ranks first among cherry-producing countries. Intensive chemical control of these pests is used and little information about alternative methods of control is available for these pests, especially in organic farming. The purpose of our study was to determine a new, cost-efficient and more ecofriendly method of pest control. The study was carried out during 2019-2020 at two different locations in Turkey: Adana-Pozantı (Alpu, 1070 m, and Belemedik, 700 m). This study investigated the effectiveness against fruit flies of netting covering trees, a mass capture technique and an insecticide suitable for use in organic agriculture (spinosad). A comparative insecticide (thiacloprid) was also applied. The methods performed quite differently from the control and were shown to be particularly effective against R. cerasi and D. suzukii. The most effective control method against the four pest species was the application of netting (100% effect). The other methods of control included in the experiment may also be useful in organic cherry cultivation. The methods presented here meet the requirements for conventional and organic production. Application of netting in particular can form the basis of organic production requirements for the management of fruit flies. It has been observed that fruits ripen a little later, and fruit monilia and aphid damage are less in trees protected by netting. This is a commercial advantage, especially for late maturing varieties, and additional studies are needed for these varieties. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Centennial Change and Source–Sink Interaction Process of Traditional Agricultural Landscape: Case from Xin’an Traditional Cherry Cultivation System (1920–2020)

In contrast to modern agriculture, long-standing traditional agricultural practices such as agricultural heritage systems (AHS) are important inspirations for promoting harmonious human–land relations. However, some AHS have been in danger as their traditional agricultural landscapes (TALs) were changed by rapid modernization and urbanization. Thus, how do we figure out the change processes? What conservation measures can be taken? Taking the Xin’an Traditional Cherry Cultivation System in the loess hilly areas of Henan Province as a case, this study introduced the source–sink landscape theory to analyze the structure and process of the TAL during 1920–2020. Results show that, during 1920–1950, the traditional rural landscape (TRL) and the agricultural (natural) ecological landscape (ANEL) in the TAL were relatively balanced because they were source and sink to each other. Since 1985, the source expansion and sink resistance of both TRL and ANEL have been greatly hindered by the sink growth of modern village landscapes (MVL). As the core source landscape, TRL needs salvage protection for inheriting local characteristics by effective measures. TAL conservation should highlight rurality preservation through expanding the protection scope of TRL, endowing the MVL with more indigenous cultural features, etc. All these may contribute to rural vitalization and sustainable development.

Economic Analysis of Cherry Cultivation in Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh

"A study aiming of working out the economics of cherry cultivation in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh was carried out in three purposively selected tehsils i.e. Kumarsain, Nankhari, and Kotkhai, by taking a representative sample of 50 farmers. Economic worth indicators, namely Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Modified Internal Rate of Return, Payback period, and Benefit cost (BC) Ratio, were estimated. Analysis of the results showed that the average cost of establishment of cherry orchards per hundred plants was ` 1,29,438.26 and the average maintenance costs were ` 44,650.19, ` 49,664.57 and ` 54,477.83 during early, main and late bearing stages, respectively. The net return was found to vary between ` 24,603.78, ` 1,65,094.40 and ` 99,109.13 during different bearing stages of cherry, and investment in cherry was found to be economically feasible. The payback period was 11 years, NPV varied between ` 4,15,661 to ` 8,62,528 at 6.25 to 10 percent discount rates when calculated using the present value method. The benefit-cost ratio was also found to be greater than one varying between 2.03 to 2.59; IRR was found to vary between 20 to 24 percent among different categories. The investment in cherry proved to be stable towards cost and yield variations; when there was 5 to 10 percent increase in cost and a decrease in returns, the economic measures were well in the range, overall benefit-cost ratio ranged between 1.95 to 2.60 and IRR varied between 20.24 percent to 22.24 percent in a sensitivity anal"

Knowledge and Skill Assessment of Farmers Regarding Cherry Cultivation Practices. The Study in District Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), India

Present study is based on the data collected from horticulture zone Tangmarg of district Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), which consists of 35 fruit growing villages out of which 06 villages were selected purposively having maximum area under cherry fruit cultivation. A proportionate allocation approach was used to pick 120 cherry growers from the 06 villages that were chosen. The study shows that majority (46.66%) of the cherry growers were having medium level of knowledge regarding various cherry cultivation practices. It was also found that most (50%) of the cherry growers had low skills, 43.33 per cent of the cherry growers were having medium skills and very less percentage (6.66%) of the cherry growers had high skills of cherry cultivation. It was observed that majority of the cherry growers had not taken any expert guidance regarding various operations necessary for cherry cultivation. So it is categorical that cherry growers were not cultivating cherry as per the recommended package of practices of cherry. As a result, demand-based, cost-effective training programmes and methods must be tailored to ensure that human resources are put to the best possible use in order to achieve long-term cherry production.

The environmental performance of greenhouse versus open-field cherry production systems in China

Greenhouse farming increasingly has been adopted in China to provide off-season products because fruit and vegetable crops cannot be grown year-round. Compared with conventional open-field cultivation, however, greenhouse cultivation usually requires higher energy and material inputs for facility construction and interior heating, increasing the environmental burdens associated with product provision. Thus, the cradle-to-gate “time-environmental” trade-off of off-season products should be completely quantified to guide green consumption. In this study we employed the process-based life-cycle assessment modeling approach to estimate the environmental costs of greenhouse cherry cultivation and compared these costs with the impacts of open-field cultivation. We examined 10 impact categories, including the abiotic depletion of fossil fuel potential, global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidation potential, fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity potential, marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential, terrestrial ecotoxicity potential, and human toxicity potential. The results show that the environmental impacts of greenhouse cherry cultivation are considerably higher (112.7% to 1672.5%) than those of open-field production, indicating significant environmental burdens associated with producing fresh cherries one to two months early. For greenhouse cherry production, interior heating was the hotspot in all impact categories, and fertilizer dominated the impacts of open-field cultivation. For greenhouse cherries, impact mitigation opportunities mainly were found in the adoption of cleaner heating fuel and animal manure use.

HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS as a Tool for Carotenoid Assessment of Wild and Cultivated Cherry Tomatoes

Carotenoids are naturally occurring fat-soluble pigments found in many organisms. Because of their extensively conjugated carbon–carbon double bond system, carotenoids are potent antioxidants. Although the most abundant carotenoid and best singlet oxygen quencher found in red tomatoes is lycopene, carotenoid profiles may vary between genotypes. The objective of this work was to perform carotenoid profile indentification using HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS in ten wild cherry tomato accessions and one cultivated tomato. A mixture of hexane/acetone/ethanol (50:25:25) and 0.1% BHT was used for carotenoid extraction. For separation, a C30 column at 30 °C with a gradient consisting of methanol, methyl-tert-butyl ether, and water was used for their analysis. Ten major carotenoids were quantified within cherry tomato samples. All accessions present different profiles and quantities of carotenoids. Wild red tomatoes had more lycopene content that commercial tomato, whereas yellow tomatoes present no lycopene. From a functional viewpoint, higher concentrations of carotenoids that could play an antioxidant activity were measured from accessions IAC401, IAC426, LA1480, IAC391, and LA2692. This trait means that these germplasms may be targets for commercial activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS has been used to analyze these accessions of wild cherry tomatoes that are both functionally promising and suitable for projects with social implementation at a local scale.

WILD CHERRY PLANTINGS WITH CONTROLLED GROWTH
 AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF HIGH QUALITY FRUITS

The article presents research data on evaluating the impact of individual methods of wild cherry cultivation technology
 on the growth and productivity of trees of the Gastsinets species on a clonal rootstock VSL-2, obtained in an experimental
 garden of the department of fruit-growing technology of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing”.
 The techniques of wild cherry cultivation technology are highlighted: the use of a new type of planting material using
 a prospective clonal rootstock VSL-2 with a budding height of 60 cm and the deepening with the rootstock part of the seedling
 when planting in the garden no more than 1/3 of the length of the conditional root collar and with a budding height of 20 cm
 without deepening the rootstock part of a seedling when planting in a garden when placing trees according to compacted
 planting schemes 4.5×2.0–1.5 m, providing controlled growth of trees (a decrease in growth rates up to 20 %) and the
 production of at least 18 t/hе of fruits of high commercial quality.

WINTER HARDINESS OF THE PROSPECTIVE HYBRIDS OF THE CULTIVATED CHERRY PLUM

One of the chief limiting factors for the cultivated cherry plum in the central zone of Belarus is winter hardiness. The
 main components of cherry plum winter hardiness were studied by the method of artificial freezing. The main test modes
 were: resistance to autumn slight frosts and early frosts; the maximum value of frost resistance developed by plants after
 the end of organic dormancy; the ability to maintain resistance to low temperatures during the winter thaws, to restore frost
 resistance during re-hardening after thaws.
 In the field, as well as in artificial freezing in various modes, the vascular-conducting tissue of the bourgeon node
 turned out to be the most sensitive to freezing. Based on the results of a comprehensive assessment of the winter hardiness
 of cultivated cherry plum genotypes in the field and using the method of direct freezing, we can distinguish that the sources
 of winter hardiness of tissues of annual shoots are hybrids 09-10/46 (Lama × Gaviota) and 09-9/72 (Comet × Mara); sources
 of winter hardiness of generative buds are hybrids 09-3/22 (Puteshestvennitsa × pollen mixture), 09-9/61, 09-9/66, 09-9/72
 (Comet × Mara).

ASSESSMENT OF SWEET CHERRY (PRUNUS AVIUM L.) GENOTYPES GROWN IN CONDITIONS OF ROMANIAN NORTHEASTERN AREA

The soil and climate conditions in Romanian Northeastern area are favorable for cherry cultivation, but some times can occurred some calamities. The paper presents a study which during 2020 at the Research Station for Fruit Growing (N-E of Romania), using five sweet cherry genotypes as research material: ‘Van’, ‘Croma’, ‘Elaiași’, ‘HC920402’, ‘HC930208’. Observations and determinations were performed in regards to the frostdamages, the main growing and phenological stages and the physical and chemical traits of the fruit. The phenological stages were evaluated for beginning of flowering and fruit ripening (expressed in growing degree-days, GDD). For these sweet cherry cultivars, the highest values concerning the fruit’s weight have been recorded for ‘Elaiași’ (9.15 g) and ‘HC920402’ (7.7 g), while fruit’s equatorial diameter have ranged between 23.21 mm and 25.16 mm. The content of soluble dry solids (SDS) was between 14.6 and 20.2 °Brix. The proposed objective aims at introducing in the assortment the new varieties with quality fruits and their resistance to cracking, with ripening time at the extremities of the sweet cherry season.