The Effects of Rootstocks and Training Systems on the Early Performance of '0900 Ziraat' Sweet Cherry

Abstract

The effects of three rootstocks ('Gisela 5', 'Gisela 6' and 'MaxMa 14') and three training systems (Spanish bush, Steep leader and Vogel central leader) on early performance of '0900 Ziraat' sweet cherry were compared. There have been significant differences among both rootstocks and training systems in terms of tree heights. At the end of the fourth year, while the height of the trees grafted on 'Gisela 5' was 238.3 cm, those grafted on 'MaxMa 14' reached 266.4 cm in height. While the shortest tree height was obtained from Spanish bush system, heights of the trees in Steep leader and Vogel central leader training systems were found to be at similar levels. 'Gisela 5' had lower trunk cross section area (TCSA) than 'Gisela 6' and 'MaxMa 14' rootstocks. Among three systems, trees trained to Steep leader had the highest TCSA, followed by Spanish bush and Vogel central leader. Interactions were found between rootstock and training system for yield and yield efficiency. On 'Gisela 6', cumulative yield of Vogel central leader system (17.0 g/tree) was significantly higher than Spanish bush (14.8 g/tree) and Steep leader (12.6 g/tree). On the other hand, on 'MaxMa 14', there were not significant differences in cumulative yield per tree among training systems. On '˜Gisela 5' and 'Gisela 6', the highest yield efficiency were observed in trees trained as Vogel central leader. Yield efficiency of Vogel central leader (0.49 kg cm^-²) was two time higher than those of Spanish bush (0.29 kg cm^-²) and Steep leader (0.26 kg cm^-²) on 'Gisela 6'. The weight of fruits from trees grafted on 'Gisela 5' was lower than those from trees on 'Gisela 6' and 'MaxMa 14'. In the fourth year, while the average fruit weight was 5.86 g on 'Gisela 5', it was 6.00 and 6.25 g on 'Gisela 6' and 'MaxMa 14' rootstocks respectively.