ISHS Acta Horticulturae 557: VII International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems
SWEET CHERRY CROP LOAD AND VIGOR MANAGEMENT ON GISELA ROOTSTOCKS |
| Authors: | J. Gutzwiler, G.A. Lang |
| Keywords: | Prunus avium, dwarfing rootstock, high density orchard, precocity, fruit quality |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.557.42 |
| Abstract:
In agricultural areas under pressure from rising labor costs, such as the Pacific Northwest U.S., sweet cherry (Prunus avium) production must become more efficient. A primary means of increasing production efficiencies lies in higher density orchards designed to reduce labor costs, as well as time from planting to first significant harvest. As with apples, there is a current trend to produce trees on dwarfing rootstocks, the most prominent of which are the Gisela series of interspecific hybrids from Giessen, Germany. Although precocious and dwarfing, these rootstocks tend to quickly overcrop in relation to their vegetative vigor, particularly in the 5th leaf and beyond. A number of solutions to this problem have been proposed, the foremost being increased pruning and nitrogen applications. Although it is apparent that either approach can be beneficial to reducing crop load and stimulating vigor, there may be critical periods and levels of each that will optimize the balance between yield and fruit quality. In the 1999 growing season, a number of preliminary trials utilized crop reduction pruning, summer pruning, and foliar urea spray treatments to enhance vegetative growth and fruit size of sweet cherry trees on Gisela rootstocks. Crop reduction via pruning into fruit clusters was examined from pre-bloom through pit hardening. Preharvest foliar nitrogen applications had little effect on fruit growth and quality, with limited vegetative growth response during the season of application. Preharvest summer pruning had little effect on current season fruit size. Conversely, some effects were observed in relation to current season shoot growth and fruit bud development. Some treatment effects are not expected to be expressed until the 2000 growing season. | |
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