First results from the examination of three interstocks for the sweet cherry cultivar 'Stella'.

摘要

The effect of three interstocks (grafted on 'P 1', a seedling of P. mahaleb L.) on the growth and fruiting of 'Stella' sweet cherry was studied from 2006 to 2009. The rootstock 'Gisela 5', the sour cherry 'North Star' and 'Hybrid 2/10' (a hybrid cross between 'Gisela 5' and 'P 1', obtained from the Agricultural University in Plovdiv) were used as interstocks (with a length of 10 cm). Trees of 'Stella' grafted directly on 'P 1' were used as control. The trees were planted in March 2006 at the experimental plantation of the Agricultural University at 6.0x4.5 m. They were trained as free-growing crowns and were grown under non-irrigated conditions. The results to the end of the fourth growth season reveal that control trees had the most vigorous growth. No significant differences in growth were observed between the other treatments. With respect to the number of spurs per tree and fruit size, insignificant differences between treatments were observed. The plants on interstock 'Gisela 5' and the control were distinguished by having a higher yield per tree, whereas those on interstock 'North Star' had the lowest. The trees on interstock 'Gisela 5' have higher yield efficiency (kg/cm2) and specific yield (kg/m2 and kg/m3) than those from the control and 'North Star' interstock, while the 'Hybrid 2/10' interstock had intermediate values.