An experiment was conducted in 2016 at Fruit Research Centre in Bilje, Slovenia to determine the impact of different rootstocks and irrigation regimes on the yield and fruit quality of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cv. 'Regina' trees. Trees were grafted on three different rootstocks (Gisela 3, Gisela 5 and Weiroot 72) and two different irrigation regimes were used – irrigation as needed based on the soil's field capacity (FC) and irrigation needs determined by Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) for specific location. After the harvest we measured the weight of the yield per tree, average fruit weight, fruit colour and total titratable acidity (TTA). Trees grafted on Weiroot 72 rootstock that were irrigated by FC had the highest total yield. With the other two rootstocks yields were lower by almost 50 %. Gisela 3 had higher yield when irrigated with quantity determined by ARSO while Gisela 5's yield was higher when irrigated by FC. Gisela 5 trees irrigated by ARSO method had the highest average fruit weight (13,46 g) but the other two rootstocks did not have much lighter fruits (11,35-12,64 g). Rootstocks differently affected fruit colour. Fruits from trees grafted on bigger rootstocks (Weiroot 72 and Gisela 5) were ranked in two classes (Ctifl 4 and Ctifl 5-6) at harvest. All of Gisela 3 fruits were ranked in Ctifl 5-6. Fruit quality i.e. ripeness affected TTA. Fruits from Gisela 5 and Weiroot 72 ranked as Ctifl 4 contained the most TTA while Gisela 3 fruits (irrigation by ARSO) that had the ripest fruits contained the least TTA.
|