ISHS Acta Horticulturae 658: I International Symposium on Rootstocks for Deciduous Fruit Tree Species
GROWTH, YIELD AND PRUNING REQUIREMENTS OF SWEET CHERRY AS AFFECTED BY ROOTSTOCKS |
| Authors: | G. Simon, K. Hrotkó, L. Magyar |
| Keywords: | Colt, SL 64, MaxMa 14, MaxMa 97, vigour, modified Brunner-spindle, yield efficiency |
| Abstract:
The results of the first eleven years of sweet cherry rootstock trials from Hungary are presented, with the aim of selecting efficient rootstocks for the local ecological conditions. The trial was established in 1989 with ‘Van’ and ‘Germersdorfi óriás’ cultivars on the following rootstocks: P. mahaleb ‘Sainte Lucie 64’, ‘Colt’, P. mahaleb x Mazzard hybrids: ‘MaxMa 14’ and ‘MaxMa 97’. After planting, the trees were headed at 80 cm and trained to a modified Brunner-spindle system (MBS). Tree size and yield were measured every year, and the cumulative yield efficiency was calculated. Based upon the results, it is concluded that the P. mahaleb 'SL 64' is a vigorous rootstock with good compatibility and productivity. In comparison to ‘SL 64’, the trunk cross-sectional area was 10-15% less on the rootstock ‘Colt’. Considerable (30-40%) reduction of trunk cross-sectional area and tree size was achieved on trees grafted on the MaxMa hybrids. Both sweet cherry cultivars showed the same tendency. Both cultivars producedthe highest cumulative yield efficiency on ‘SL 64’, followed by ‘MaxMa 14’, ‘Colt’, and finally ‘MaxMa 97’. Zahn’s corrective pruning was applied on bearing trees trained as modified Brunner-spindles, and on average it took 4-5 minutes per tree. Labour needed for summer pruning on these rootstocks and MBS training systems was no greater than that required in traditional orchards. | |
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