Plant breeding and testing of sour cherry cultivars in conditions of Donbass.

摘要

Field trials were conducted in the Donbass region, eastern Ukraine, for 3 years to study self fertility in 600 cultivars and selected forms from different scientific institutes. Thirty self compatible cherry cultivars with 10-15% fruit setting were found, including cv. Lyubskaya with 19-20% fruit setting and 40% after pruning. A total of 5000-6000 hybrids of cherry was grown almost yearly for 20 years until 1995 to increase frost resistance and crop production. The results of observations on taste, resistance to Coccomyces [Blumeriella], drought and frost, and crop yield in crossing experiments with sour and sweet cherries, and pollinators are summarised. Problems related to breeding of large-fruit cultivars possessing resistance to Blumeriella, associated with the abundance of triploids and dominance of small-fruit cultivars, are considered. An increase in occurrence of cherry fruit fly [Rhagoletis cerasi], predominantly damaging medium late and late sour cherry cultivars, is reported. Problems related to incompatibility of cultivars and rootstocks are discussed. The best rootstocks were the local forms of frost-resistant Magalebka sour cherry, however, the latter was incompatible with cultivar Lyubskaya. Experiments were conducted resulting in selection of 3 Magalebka forms compatible with Lyubskaya. The exceptions were Nord Star sour cherry and Shpanka donetskaya sour cherry-sweet cherry hybrid resulting in production of dwarfs with insufficient compatibility with Magalebka rootstocks.