EVALUATION OF INTERSPECIFIC CHERRY HYBRIDS AS ROOTSTOCKS FOR SWEET CHERRIES

The performance of trees on rootstocks Gisela 5 (148/2), Gisela 6 (148/1), Gisela 7 (148/8), and Gisela 8 (148/9), grafted with up to 21 different cultivars, in an experimental plot at Witzenhausen (near Kassel, Germany) is described and compared to trees on the standard rootstock F12/1. In the 9th year, mean crown size of trees on F12/1 was 24 m². Crown size on Gisela 6 of the same age was 58%, on Gisela 5 45%, on Gisela 8 39%, and on Gisela 7 only 37% of F12/1. Cumulative yields (7th to 9th year) were highest for Gisela 5 and Gisela 6 (average of 35 kg/tree), with a wide range of variation between different cultivars within each rootstock.
Concerning yield efficiency, all Gisela-clones outperfomed F12/1. Gisela- rootstocks show other additional positive traits and especially Gisela 5 and Gisela 6 are recommended as size-controlling, precocious and productive rootstocks for sweet cherries.

III International Cherry Symposium

E. Walther, S. Franken-Bembenek

Prunus x spp., rootstock, size-control, yield, yield efficiency, Germany

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.468.33