Effect of Adara-M2624 combination and other seven rootstocks on canopy characteristics of two sweet cherry varieties

Abstract

The influence of SL64, MxM60, MxM14, CAB6P, Weirrot 13, GiSeLa® 5, GiSeLa® 6 and interstocks Adara on Mariana 2624 rootstocks onto vegetative growth of Bing and Celeste sweet cherry cultivars was studied under local agro-climatic conditions, during 9 years after grafting. The experimental design consisted of randomized complete block with six replications, with four trees per experimental unit. The variables were trunk cross sectional area of cultivar (TCSA), TCSA ratio (cultivar-interstocks), height, canopy volume, vigor index and root sucker density. The canopy size was influenced mainly by rootstocks and, to a lesser extent, by variety and interaction. Under test conditions, SL64 was the most vigorous, followed by MxM60 as vigorous. MxM14, CAB6P and Adara-M2624 were semi-vigorous, Weiroot 13 was semi-dwarfing, GiSeLa 6 was dwarfing and GiSeLa 5 was very dwarfing. Both GiSeLa and Weirrot 13 kept VDct below the maximum available, while that of MxM14 and Adara- Mariana 2624 was controlled just by pruning. Bing cultivar was more vigorous than Celeste. The combination of a very dwarfing rootstocks with medium vigor varieties resulted in very weak trees, and conversely, very vigorous plants. Weiroot13, CAB6P and Adara-M2624 produced root suckers.