The impact of the pruning time on the yield and size of sweet cherries of the Stella and Skeena varieties grafted on MaxMa 14
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The study investigates the effects of pruning time on sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) of Stella and Skeena varieties, grafted on MaxMa 14 rootstock, planted at a spacing distance of 5 x 3 m in the central region of the Republic of Moldova in 2012. Trees with naturally improved crowns of reduced volume were used. Four pruning schedules were tested: dormant period pruning (control group), pruning during flowering, post-harvest pruning (in July), and early autumn pruning (first decade of September). Phenological characteristics of sweet cherry varieties, trunk diameter increment, crop yield, and fruit distribution by diameter were assessed. Pruning time had no significant effect on the onset and duration of flowering or trunk growth, but significantly influenced fruit quality and yield. Early autumn pruning reduced the number of small fruits and increased the yield of fruits larger than 28 mm in diameter. Further research during the growing season should focus on evaluating the impact of pruning time on yield, fruit diameter, fruit mass, and fruit distribution by commercial size.
Source: Știința Agricolă
Authors: Valerian Balan, Vasile Sarban
Institution: Technical University of Moldova
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4394914462