PERFORMANCE OF CHOKEBERRY (ARONIA MELANOCARPA) IN OREGON, USA

A planting of chokeberry [Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott] was established in 1997, using rooted cuttings, at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, Oregon.
The cultivars evaluated were ‘Albigowa’, ‘Darbrowice’, ‘Egerta’, ‘Kutno’, ‘Nero’, and ‘Nowa Wies’. All cultivars grew vigorously in the planting year.
In 1998, there was no fruit harvest due to bird depredation; the plot was netted from 1999-01. Yield in 1999 ranged from 4.4 to 12.4 kg/plant with ‘Egerta’ producing the lowest yield and ‘Nero’ the highest. In 2000, yield ranged from 13.0 (‘Egerta’) to 22.1 (‘Kutno’) kg/plant and in 2001, from 13.1 (‘Egerta’) to 24.1 (‘Nero’) kg/plant. ‘Kutno’, ‘Albigowa’ and ‘Nowa Wies’ did not differ significantly in yield from 1999-2001. Plants were pruned for the first time in winter 2000/01. Berry weight ranged from 2.7 to 2.8 g in 2001, considerably larger than in 1999 and 2000. Percent soluble solids at harvest in 2001 ranged from 15.8 to 18.3 percent. Berries contained from 440 to 574 mg/100g anthocyanin.

XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Berry Crop Breeding, Production and Utilization for a New Century

B. Strik, C. Finn, R. Wrolstad

Aroniaberry, yield, berry weight, berry size, pruning, anthocyanins, soluble solids, Brix

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.626.61