Influence of planting distance and crown shape on the growth, productivity and quality of cherry fruits, grafted on Giseala 6.

Abstract

The study on the influence of planting distance and crown shape on cherry fruits in the pedoclimatic conditions of the central and northern areas of the Republic of Moldova in the period 2018-2024 aimed at assessing the impact of these factors on the growth, productivity and quality of the fruits. In the research, trees of the Early Star and Samba varieties were grafted onto the Gisela 6 rootstock and managed under the Thin Spindle, Cupă and Kym Green Bush crown forms, planted at a density of 1250 trees/ha. The Kordia and Sweet Stefany varieties were grafted onto the same rootstock, but managed according to the Thin Spindle, Structured Vertical Axis and Improved Thin Spindle crown systems, planted at a distance of 4x1 m, with a density of 2500 trees/ha. For all variants, parameters such as total yield, diameter and mass of cherries, as well as soluble dry matter content and titratable acidity of the fruits were determined. The Early Star variety achieved the highest yield in 2022 when the trees were managed according to the Thin Spindle crown shape, with an average of 8.8 kg/tree. The Kordia variety recorded the highest yield (9.64 kg/tree) when the trees were managed according to the Structured Thin Spindle crown shape. Although the Sweet Stefany variety has a lower yield overall, the highest production was obtained in the variant with management according to the Structured Vertical Axis system, with a yield of 7.11 kg/tree.