Yield and quality of cherry fruits (Prunus avium l.) depending on tree formation and pruning

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pruning during the dormant and growing periods on the production and quality of cherry fruits of the varieties “Record” and “Valerii Cikalov”, grafted on Mahaleb rootstock, planted in 2003, at a distance of 6x5 m, and “Skeena” and “Stella”, grafted on MaxMa 14, planted in 2012, at a distance of 5x3 m. Pruning applied on 3 – 5 year old wood led to an increase in fruit yield by up to 6.7 – 8.9 % for the varieties “Valerii Cikalov” and “Record”. In the varieties “Skeena” and “Stella”, pruning performed during the growing period had a major positive effect on quality. This practice stimulated the production of fruits with a diameter greater than 28 mm, registering an increase of up to 15.8 – 34.2 % compared to pruning performed on dry (dormant) wood. Pruning during the growing season has proven to be a practical method for improving fruit quality and size.