Manifestations оf summit sweet cherry cultivar оn different inters

Dimitar Sotirov

Abstract: The investigations were carried out during the period 2008 – 2014 with sweet cherry cultivar Summit grafted on IK-M9 mahaleb, using Gisela 3, Gisela 5, Gisela 6 and Weiroot 10 as interstocks with length of about 30 cm. Interstock effects on the growth and reproductive characteristics of the trees were examined. The trees were planted in the spring of 2008 at distances of 4.0 x 3.0 m on Chromic Luvisols with a slight acid reaction, trained as free-growing crowns and irrigated by sprinkling. It was found that the interstock Gisela 3 induced the weakest growth of cherry trees, but they had severely reduced vitality and at the end of the 4th year died 80% of them. At the end of the 6th year interstock Weiroot 10 induced the biggest growth of the tree crowns, and those with Gisela 5 and Gisela 6 not differed significantly from grafted directly on IK-M9. The highest total yield was obtained from the trees with interstock Weiroot 10, which was similar to that of the control trees, while with the other variants it was reduced. The coefficient of productivity (kg/cm2 of the trunk cross-section area) and yield of 1 m3 of the crown volume and of 1 m2 of the crown projection area were lower for the trees with interstock, in comparison with trees grafted directly on IK-M9. The fruit weight was not substantially affected by the tested interstocks except only Gisela 3, which led to its more significant reduction.

Keywords: fruit weight; growth; interstock; rootstock; yield

Date published: 2017-08-09