ISHS Acta Horticulturae 795: V International Cherry Symposium
PERFORMANCE OF GISELA® ROOTSTOCKS IN SIX HIGH DENSITY SWEET CHERRY TRAINING SYSTEMS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES |
| Authors: | T.L. Robinson, R.L. Andersen, S.A. Hoying |
| Keywords: | Prunus avium, yield, fruit size, soluble solids, crop value |
| Abstract:
Two field trials were planted in 1999 and 2002 which compared three cherry rootstocks [‘Gisela 5’, (Gi.5), ‘Gisela 6’, (Gi.6) and MxM.2] and six training systems [Central leader (336 trees/ha), Spanish bush (673 trees/ha), Slender spindle (897 trees/ha), V (997 trees/ha), Marchant inclined tree (1035 trees/ha), and Vertical axis (1196 trees/ha)] with 3 sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) varieties (‘Hedelfingen’, ‘Lapins’ and ‘Sweetheart’). After 6 years, tree size was smallest with Gi.5, intermediate with Gi.6 and largest with MxM.2. In the second field trial, which also included Gi.12 and ‘Mazzard’, the Gi.12 trees were as large as the trees on ‘Mazzard’ after 3 years while Gi.6 and Gi.5 were significantly smaller. Early yield and cumulative yield were highest for trees on Gi.5 followed by Gi.6, while trees on MxM.2 had the lowest yield. Average fruit size was largest on Gi.6, intermediate on Gi.5 and smallest on MxM.2. A severe winter freeze in 2004 resulted in significant flower damage on Gi.6, with lesser damage on Gi.5 and MxM.2. Among training systems, the Vertical axis had the highest cumulative yield per tree, followed by the Slender spindle, Spanish bush, Central leader, the V and lastly the Marchant. On a hectare basis, the Vertical axis system had the highest cumulative yield, followed by the Slender spindle, the V, the Marchant, the Spanish bush and the Central leader. The cumulative yields largely reflected density. Fruit size was largest with the Slender spindle system and smallest with the Vertical Axis. Fruit soluble solids were highest with the Central Leader followed by the V and Slender spindle systems. The Spanish bush and the Marchant systems had the lowest soluble solids, which likely was the result of dense canopies and shade within the canopy. The Slender spindle and the V systems had the best combination of high yield, fruit size and soluble solids. | |
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