THE EFFECTS OF ROOTSTOCK ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ‘HEDELFINGEN’ AND ‘MONTMORENCY’ CHERRY IN MICHIGAN, USA

Two rootstock trials were established at Traverse City, Michigan, in 1987 to test the performance of ‘Hedelfingen’ and ‘Montmorency’ on 19 and 25 different rootstocks, respectively. ‘Hedelfingen’ yields in 1990 and 1991 were low because of injurious spring frosts.
Cropping in 1992 was highest on Gisela 148/1, 195/1 and 154/4. Cumulative yield in three years (1990–1992) on 148/1, the most precocious rootstock, was threefold greater than for ‘Hedelfingen’ on Mazzard seedling. ‘Hedelfingen’ trees on seven of the rootstocks in this trial are less than 50% of the vigour of similar trees on Mazzard seedling.
With ‘Montmorency’ sour cherry, only two new rootstocks have surpassed the standard Mahaleb seedling rootstock in cumulative yield.
Gisela 173/9 is almost twice as yield efficient as Mahaleb seedling.
Trees on five of the rootstocks, including GI 173/9, are less than 50% of the vigour of trees on Mahaleb seedling.
The rootstocks also affected the precocity of the scions, measured as blossom density, in the early years of the trial.

II International Cherry Symposium

R.L. Perry, J.L. Runkel, M.A. Longstroth

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.410.37