Articles
A NINE-YEAR STUDY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF TWELVE CHERRY ROOTSTOCKS UNDER NON-IRRIGATED CONDITIONS IN APULIA (SOUTHERN ITALY)
Article number
795_25
Pages
191 – 198
Language
English
Abstract
Abstract
The spread of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) orchards in Apulia (southern Italy) mainly depends on the limited height of mature trees.
Tree growth is controlled naturally as a consequence of several interrelated factors: poor and shallow soils, non-irrigated (rainfed) conditions, and the use of P. mahaleb Mill. St.
Lucie as the sole rootstock.
The possibility of a further reduction of tree height by the use of rootstocks more dwarfing than P. mahaleb is intriguing; thus, a trial was conducted from 1996 throughout 2004 to determine the potential for such rootstocks.
Self-compatible Lapins was grafted onto the following 12 rootstocks: Mazzard, Mazzard F 12/1, CAB 6P, CAB 11E, Weiroot® 158, Damil® (GM 61/1), SL 64, Avima®-Argot, Delbard® MaxMa 14, Delbard® MaxMa 97, Colt and Gisela® 5.
After nine years, only 15% of the trees on Gisela® 5 were alive, while the survival of trees on Avima®-Argot, CAB 11E and MaxMa Delbard® 14 was more than 90%. The largest trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) was recorded for Avima®-Argot, Colt and SL 64; the smallest TCSAs were on Damil® and Weiroot® 158. Significant suckering occurred with CAB 6P and CAB 11E. In 2004, the maximum tree height did not exceed 4.5 m on MaxMa 14; only Weiroot® 158 produced trees smaller than 2.6 m.
The earliest bearing rootstock was Weiroot® 158 (3rd leaf) and the latest was Mazzard F 12/1 (6th leaf). Cumulative 19982004 yields ranged from a minimum of 2.5 kg/tree (Damil®) to a maximum of 45.5 kg/tree (SL 64). In terms of yield efficiency, the best results were on Weiroot® 158, SL 64 and Avima®-Argot; the worst results were on Colt, MaxMa Delbard® 97, Mazzard, Mazzard F 12/1 and Damil®, in decreasing order.
The overall results confirmed the satisfactory performance of SL 64 and the promising performance by dwarfing Weiroot® 158 and semi-dwarfing MaxMa 14. Damil® and Gisela® 5 were totally unsuited to the local environment/growing conditions.
The spread of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) orchards in Apulia (southern Italy) mainly depends on the limited height of mature trees.
Tree growth is controlled naturally as a consequence of several interrelated factors: poor and shallow soils, non-irrigated (rainfed) conditions, and the use of P. mahaleb Mill. St.
Lucie as the sole rootstock.
The possibility of a further reduction of tree height by the use of rootstocks more dwarfing than P. mahaleb is intriguing; thus, a trial was conducted from 1996 throughout 2004 to determine the potential for such rootstocks.
Self-compatible Lapins was grafted onto the following 12 rootstocks: Mazzard, Mazzard F 12/1, CAB 6P, CAB 11E, Weiroot® 158, Damil® (GM 61/1), SL 64, Avima®-Argot, Delbard® MaxMa 14, Delbard® MaxMa 97, Colt and Gisela® 5.
After nine years, only 15% of the trees on Gisela® 5 were alive, while the survival of trees on Avima®-Argot, CAB 11E and MaxMa Delbard® 14 was more than 90%. The largest trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) was recorded for Avima®-Argot, Colt and SL 64; the smallest TCSAs were on Damil® and Weiroot® 158. Significant suckering occurred with CAB 6P and CAB 11E. In 2004, the maximum tree height did not exceed 4.5 m on MaxMa 14; only Weiroot® 158 produced trees smaller than 2.6 m.
The earliest bearing rootstock was Weiroot® 158 (3rd leaf) and the latest was Mazzard F 12/1 (6th leaf). Cumulative 19982004 yields ranged from a minimum of 2.5 kg/tree (Damil®) to a maximum of 45.5 kg/tree (SL 64). In terms of yield efficiency, the best results were on Weiroot® 158, SL 64 and Avima®-Argot; the worst results were on Colt, MaxMa Delbard® 97, Mazzard, Mazzard F 12/1 and Damil®, in decreasing order.
The overall results confirmed the satisfactory performance of SL 64 and the promising performance by dwarfing Weiroot® 158 and semi-dwarfing MaxMa 14. Damil® and Gisela® 5 were totally unsuited to the local environment/growing conditions.
Publication
Authors
A. Godini, M. Palasciano, S. Camposeo, A. Pacifico
Keywords
Prunus avium, dwarfing, environmental adaptability
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