CLONAL SELECTION IN PRUNUS MAHALEB ROOTSTOCKS

Prunus mahaleb seedling rootstocks for sour cherry trees are often infected by seed-transmitted Prunus viruses and frequently show genetic incompatibility with the important sour cherry cv. "Schattenmorelle". Therefore, P. mahaleb plants established from root suckers of old, good cropping "Schattenmorelle" trees, were indexed for Prunus viruses and selected for compatibility with "Schattenmorelle" and suitability for vegetative propagation.

Among several promising clones, the clone BONN 6 seems to be suitable for commercial purposes.
With respect to propagation under mist, growth and bud-take of rootstocks in the nursery, and performance of "Schattenmorelle" trees on these rootstocks during 10 years’ observation in the orchard the clone BONN 6 was superior to other P. mahaleb clones tested.
In general P. mahaleb should be used in sour cherry culture only on light, sandy soils while on other soil types P. avium rootstocks are preferred.

Workshop on Clonal Selection in Tree Fruit

G. Baumann, G. Engel

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.180.12