ISHS Acta Horticulturae 732: VIII International Symposium on Canopy, Rootstocks and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF SWEET CHERRY CULTIVARS ON FIVE ROOTSTOCKS |
| Authors: | A.S.A. Santos, R.S.S. Ribeiro, J.L. Lousada, A.-M. Pereira |
| Keywords: | Prunus avium, interspecific hybrid dwarfing roots, virus, shooting, dwarfing |
| Abstract:
Cherry dwarfing rootstocks are presently of great importance in the industry of this commodity. The effects of several rootstocks upon the growth of three cherry cultivars were investigated for four years. The trial was set up in 1999 in Vila Real (Portugal) and included the cultivars ‘Burlat’, ‘Summit’, ‘Van’ and the most important regional cv. ‘Saco’; the rootstocks were Edabriz, Gisela 5, Maxma 14, Cab 11E and P. avium (Mazzard). Total shoot length was recorded annually from scion formation (raising) in the nursery to the end of the 3rd leaf in the orchard. The rootstock was the main factor influencing plant growth. Total shoot growth on Edabriz, Gisela 5, Maxma 14 and Cab 11E was 18%, 30%, 67%, and 73%, respectively, of the growth on Mazzard. Cultivars ‘Van’, ‘Summit’ and ‘Burlat’ had similar growth, and were significantly larger than the regional ‘Saco’. Rootstock/cultivar combinations resulted in a wide range of vigours: the trees of the cultivar ‘Van’ on P. avium roots attained the maximum cumulative growth (52.6 m, 100%) and the cultivar ‘Saco’ on Edabriz resulted in the poorest growth (2.1 m, 3.9%). P. avium exhibited the strongest main stem and branch shooting, but tree shoot growth was dramatically reduced on Edabriz and Gisela 5. All rootstock combinations with the cultivar ‘Saco’ resulted in a dramatic reduction of vigour due to infection by virus (PDV, PNRSV and ACLSV). The dwarfing of cherry trees by dwarfing rootstocks (i.e. Edabriz) may be so severe that tree death may occur. | |
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