Influence of pruning on biological properties of sweet cherry cultivars grafted on ‘Oblačinska’ sour cherry

Abstract

Pruning is the most important pomotechnical measure in intensive sweet cherry cultivation, that significantly affects fruit quality. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of pruning intensity on biological characteristics of sweet cherry trees. The experimental orchard was situated on the Fruška Gora mountain, near Novi Sad, in the north of Serbia. Three sweet cherry cultivars were examined: ‘Burlat’, ‘Carmen’ and ‘Summit’. All cultivars were grafted on ‘Oblačinska’ sour cherry rootstock. Experimental orchard was established in 2012 with planting distance 3.85×2.5 m. During a two-year period (2017-2018) the following characteristics were studied: time of flowering and ripening, trunk diameter, number of spurs tree-1, fruit weight and yield. Pruning was applied in September with two intensities: intensive pruning (IP) and moderate pruning (MP). After pruning, number of spurs tree-1 was counted and calculated in relation to trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA). Number of spurs cm-2 of TCSA in IP variant was in the range of 2.03-2.18, and in MP variant it ranged 3.16-3.45. The results indicate significant effect of pruning intensity on fruit weight. Average fruit weight on IP trees in all three cultivars was significantly higher than on MP trees. Yield was also under influence of pruning intensity, and IP mostly leads to yield decreasing.