EXPERIENCES WITH DWARFING CHERRY ROOTSTOCK GISELA 3 COMPARED TO GISELA 5 IN NORTHERN GERMANY

In a rootstock trial set up in 2002, trees of ‘Regina’, ‘Karina’, ‘Kordia’ and ‘Merchant’ sweet cherry were planted at different within-row spacings on Gisela 3 (1.5 m, 2.0 m, 2.5 m) and Gisela 5 (2.0 m, 2.5 m, 3.0 m) rootstocks.
Distance between the rows was always 4.75 m.
Preliminary results are given after seven cropping years.
All cultivars consistently produced a higher yield on Gisela 5 than on Gisela 3. In the first years, there was no clear effect of planting distance on yield per tree.
The highest yields per hectare were obtained most frequently with Gisela 5 at a planting distance of 2.5 m.
Even the highest density of trees on Gisela 3 (1.5 m) did not exceed those yields per hectare.
Tree survival rate in the 8th year on Gisela 5 was 100% with ‘Regina’ and ‘Merchant’, and approx. 90% with ‘Kordia’ and ‘Karina’. ‘Merchant’ and ‘Regina’ were also the healthiest cultivars on Gisela 3 with tree survival rates of 92% and 71%, respectively.
Survival of ‘Kordia’ on Gisela 3 was also 71%, while that of ‘Karina’ was only 53%. Summarizing all experiences under Northern German conditions, Gisela 5 was the best rootstock for the most relevant varieties.
Gisela 3 is currently being considered especially for high density systems and plantations under rain cover protection.
However, our findings of low tree survival rates on Gisela 3 indicate a high risk for growers.

VI International Cherry Symposium

R. Stehr

Prunus avium, sweet cherry, planting densities, tree mortality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1020.55