Growth and Fruiting of Some Sweet Cherry Cultivars on Sl64 Rootstock in the South-Eastern Part of Romania

Abstract

Lately, more and more farmers in Romania in order to establish new plantations are turning to the latest creations of cherry varieties and rootstocks of foreign origin. Even if their performances are very good in some areas of origin, and Romania has a wide area with suitability for cherry culture, there are significant differences between expectations and results to growers. For knowledge improvement about the behavior of older and newer varieties of cherry, in the south east area of Romania in terms of precocity, phenology, growth and fructification capacity has been studied a total of six varieties of cherry grafted onto SL64 rootstock. The trees were of Italian origin and the varieties tested were Bigarreau Moreau, Bigarreau Burlat, Van, Adriana, Sweet Heart and Giorgia. The training system of trees is free palmette and the experimental plot is equipped with trellis support system. Trees are planted at a distance of 5 x 4 m. The data obtained so far indicated Sweet Heart and Adriana with the smallest vigor of trees. The first fruits were obtained from the varieties B. Moreau and B. Burlat, and the biggest fruits belonged to Georgia and Sweet Heart varieties. Van variety had the highest production per tree.