FURTHER EXPERIENCES WITH DWARFING SWEET CHERRY ROOTSTOCKS IN NORTHERN GERMANY

In a rootstock trial with ‘Regina’ sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), begun in 1995, ‘Gisela 5’ had given the best cumulative cropping results, compared to ‘Weiroot 13’, ‘Weiroot 53’, ‘Weiroot 154’, ‘Weiroot 158’, ‘Mazzard’ and ‘Colt’. In summer 2001, the trees on ‘Weiroot 53’, ‘Weiroot 154’ and ‘Weiroot 158’ began exhibiting severe incompatibility problems.
Since that time, these rootstocks no longer are of interest for northern Germany.
Another trial with ‘Regina’ was planted in 1998, which included the Czech rootstocks P-HL-A and P-HL-B, as well as the PiKu series from Dresden-Pillnitz, for comparisons to other well-known standards like ‘Mazzard’, ‘Colt’ and ‘Gisela 5’. Data for tree vigour (trunk diameter and tree volume) and yields were recorded.
The best yields were obtained with ‘Gisela 5’. Another trial was planted in 1999 with ‘Kordia’ grafted on 14 different rootstocks, including the Weiroot series and further selection numbers from the Giessen-breeding program (e.g., 148/13, 195/20, 196/13 and 497/8). Initial data are reported for this trial.
Summarizing all experiences under northern Germany conditions, ‘Gisela 5’ seems to be the best rootstock for most cultivars.
Nursery cherry production is now more than 90% on ‘Gisela 5’. For very heavy cropping and less vigorous varieties, there is still some need for a stronger rootstock having similar good cropping efficiency.
For high density systems and under rain covers, ‘Gisela 3’ is of increasing interest.

V International Cherry Symposium

R. Stehr

Prunus avium, Gisela, Weiroot, Colt, PiKu, P-HL, growth, vigour, yield efficiency

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.795.24