Propagation type of PiKU 1 rootstocks slightly affect overall performance of ‘Sumbola’ sweet cherry trees

Yield, average fruit mass and trunk diameter of ‘Sumbola’ sweet cherry trees, grafted on PiKU 1 rootstocks, originating either from micro (MPR) or from soft wood cutting propagation (CPR), were compared over a period of 8 years starting from the third leaf.
For trees grafted on cutting-propagated PiKU 1 rootstocks, the trunk diameter 30 cm above the graft consistently exceeded those grafted on micro-propagated rootstocks.
Recorded in four of the eight years, the yield of CPR trees exceeded that of MPR trees in the sixth and the eighth year of the trees in the field, whereas yield was similar in the seventh and eleventh year.
In the ninth and tenth years, frost events during bloom pronouncedly reduced yields.
Except for one year, the yield efficiency of MPR trees was elevated compared to CPR trees, while the mean fruit mass was the same on all tree-types in the four bearing years.
In addition, soluble solids content, firmness and pigmentation was in the same range in fruit of both tree-types in the final year.
Consequently, trees grafted on cutting-propagated PiKU 1 rootstocks had a higher growth capacity compared to trees grafted on micro-propagated PiKU 1 rootstock, whereas rootstock propagation technique did not affect fruit yield consistently.

XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Innovative Perennial Crops Management

M. Penzel, M. Möhler

Prunus avium, trunk diameter, fruit diameter, soluble solids content, fruit quality, yield efficiency

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1366.18