Detemination of the time of pruning regarding the ability of developing flower buds and their frost tolerance in sweet cherry varieties

In sweet cherry growing, intense technology is introduced as the up to date development. Among the elements of the technology are the choice of variety, planting design and pruning are the main elements. The methods, intensity and the timing of pruning are largely dependent from the growing habits of the varieties, the light demand of the parts of different age and their tendency of getting bald on the aging zones. One of the main limiting factors of production, the frost damages are outstanding. In choosing the site of plantation, we must avoid the places, where spring frosts used to occur, the next moment is the role of the variety and the technology applied. In Hungary, the late or spring frosts are considered, however, the winter frosts may also cause heavy losses, which depend also on the health and nutritional condition of the trees when being exposed to temperature minima. Our present study is based on a 9-year-old plantation trained to slender spindle as well as to free spindle crown. We observed the development of fruiting structures and their frost damage also in relation with the timing of the pruning operations during the winter or summer, and compared also the varieties with each other

Comparative study of cherry varieties used in intense culture

Research in sweet cherry production is intensely stimulated worldwide. The programs started also in Hungary to develop technologies and to find suitable varieties for the purpose of intense cultivation. It means that dimension of crowns should be smaller, with higher number of plants per hectare. Understocks, which let grow the trees slower, are scarce in this species. On the one hand, the braking effect of the respective stocks is insufficient, they get old pretty soon, loose ramification, yield too small fruits and do not comply with the aims of intense cultivation. Experiences prove the necessity of stocks for intense culture, which are vital, growing, easily regenerating, and freely branching. Mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb), a strong growing stock, is still suitable. Further improvement is expected from the contribution of technological elements and the choice of variety. In the present paper, a 9-year old plantation is shown with trees trained to (slender) spindle, and the yield and fruit quality of the year 2009 has been analysed with 6 varieties involved

Preliminary results of fruit quality of resistant sour cherry clones in 2014

The richness of Hungarian sour cherry cultivars in the world is unique; they can be consumed in many ways. Sour cherry is aHungaricum and has excellent fruit quality and nutritional value. Nowadays the demand for chemical-free fruits is increasing. Reducing thenumber of chemical applications can be achieved most effectively by the use of resistant varieties, technological developments and cultivarinnovation. The domestic and international sour cherry breeding programs use almost exclusively the resistant ‘Csengôdi’ clones as a basis.They are mainly Monilinia and Blumeriella resistant and have higher dry matter and antioxidant content. These pathogens influence not onlythe qualitative and quantitative parameters of the fruits, but may play an indirect role in the deterioration of the overall condition of the treesas well. The cultivation of resistant varieties can greatly reduce the pesticide load of the environment, so we can produce fruit with excellentnutritional value with fewer chemicals. Our aim is the expansion of the sour cherry assortment by introducing new resistant cultivars. Withthis we can contribute to the spreading of environmentally sound production technologies and supply “super fruits” to the consumers

Vegetative Indicators of sour cherry cultivars and resistant clons

Sour cherry is a hungaricum. Hungary has several excellent and self fertile sour cherry cultivars. Hungarian sour cherries have a name for fruit quality and they are suitable for fresh consumption. Today breeding is focused not only on fruit quality, but also on disease resistance. The new, investigated cultivars have these characteristics too. But growth characteristics are also very important because they contribute to successful production. The vegetative and generative properties of the cultivars are different. If a cultivar is very productive, the ignorance of cultivar-specific pruning may result in the decrease in tree condition and fruit quality. The properties of producing fruiting wood greatly determine the renewal capabilities of cultivars. Knowing these properties is essential in case of sour cherries, the fruit species that requires a lot of sunlight and tends to produce bare wood. The research of candidate cultivars until now focused on fruit quality. Our aim was to investigate the vegetative characteristics of the resistant ‘bosnyák’ cultivar group in detail, defining the growth characteristics of these cultivars

Detemination of the time of pruning regarding the ability of developing flower buds and their frost tolerance in sweet cherry varieties

In sweet cherry growing, intense technology is introduced as the up to date development. Among the elements of the technologyare the choice of variety, planting design and pruning are the main elements. The methods, intensity and the timing of pruning are largelydependent from the growing habits of the varieties, the light demand of the parts of different age and their tendency of getting bald on theaging zones. One of the main limiting factors of production, the frost damages are outstanding. In choosing the site of plantation, we mustavoid the places, where spring frosts used to occur, the next moment is the role of the variety and the technology applied. In Hungary, the lateor spring frosts are considered, however, the winter frosts may also cause heavy losses, which depend also on the health and nutritionalcondition of the trees when being exposed to temperature minima. Our present study is based on a 9-year-old plantation trained to slenderspindle as well as to free spindle crown. We observed the development of fruiting structures and their frost damage also in relation with thetiming of the pruning operations during the winter or summer, and compared also the varieties with each other

Preliminary results of renewal pruning an 18 years old sour cherry trees

Sour cherry is a light demanding fruit species. As most of the crop is developing from buds on one year old shoots and 2-yearoldwood, the formation of bare wood can be seen apparently in a badly maintained canopy. The formation of „whip shoots” indicates thedegree of bare wood. Unfortunately in many gardens and commercial orchards sour cherry trees resemble willow trees. Owners often decideto grub old orchards, although the useful cropping lifespan of the trees planted in a correct spacing can be 20-30 years on a move vigorousrootstock. Therefore renewal pruning can contribute to the full renewal of the orchard, but the length of its effect is depending on the growthcharacteristics and renewal capabilities of the cultivar. The growth characteristics of the cultivars are different. The regeneration capabilitiesof different aged wood are also different. These differences emphasize the need for cultivar specifi c pruning. Knowing the reactions to renewalpruning, we can ensure regular high crops with excellent quality by applying cultivar specifi c rotation pruning

Comparative study of cherry varieties used in intense culture

Research in sweet cherry production is intensely stimulated worldwide. The programs started also in Hungary to developtechnologies and to find suitable varieties for the purpose of intense cultivation. It means that dimension of crowns should be smaller, withhigher number of plants per hectare. Understocks, which let grow the trees slower, are scarce in this species. On the one hand, the brakingeffect of the respective stocks is insufficient, they get old pretty soon, loose ramification, yield too small fruits and do not comply with theaims of intense cultivation. Experiences prove the necessity of stocks for intense culture, which are vital, growing, easily regenerating, andfreely branching. Mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb), a strong growing stock, is still suitable. Further improvement is expected from the contributionof technological elements and the choice of variety. In the present paper, a 9-year old plantation is shown with trees trained to (slender)spindle, and the yield and fruit quality of the year 2009 has been analysed with 6 varieties involved

A study of processes active in regeneration of different sweet cherry varieties

Cherries belong to the group of fruit trees, which require little attention in pruning. The process of getting bald branches is less accentuated, which is associated with the light requirement of organs changing along with the aging process. The growing habits of the varieties (length and number of growing shoots, etc.) is closely related with the productivity of fruiting parts. The ability of regeneration and the functional effectiveness of fruiting structures are expressed by the distribution according to their age. The differences registered justify the necessity to develop pruning policies for each particular type of variety. For that purpose, we have to examine the age dependency of the processes related to regeneration, which may serve as starting point of a pruning strategy. Growth of some parts should be stimulated in order to develop or regenerate fruiting parts. Some branches need to be rejuvenated, partially, as an antidote to progressive senescence. Every intervention is aimed to strengthen the development of the most productive constructions. Reactions induced by rejuvenation should be expressed in fruiting intensity. A pruning program adapted to the particular variety as well as to the actual phase of a rotating pruning system should anticipate results

A study of processes active in regeneration of different sweet cherry varieties

Cherries belong to the group of fruit trees, which require little attention in pruning. The process of getting bald branches is lessaccentuated, which is associated with the light requirement of organs changing along with the aging process. The growing habits of the varieties(length and number of growing shoots, etc.) is closely related with the productivity of fruiting parts. The ability of regeneration and the functionaleffectiveness of fruiting structures are expressed by the distribution according to their age. The differences registered justify the necessity todevelop pruning policies for each particular type of variety. For that purpose, we have to examine the age dependency of the processes related toregeneration, which may serve as starting point of a pruning strategy. Growth of some parts should be stimulated in order to develop or regeneratefruiting parts. Some branches need to be rejuvenated, partially, as an antidote to progressive senescence. Every intervention is aimed to strengthenthe development of the most productive constructions. Reactions induced by rejuvenation should be expressed in fruiting intensity. A pruningprogram adapted to the particular variety as well as to the actual phase of a rotating pruning system should anticipate results

Preliminary results of renewal pruning an 18 years old sour cherry trees

Sour cherry is a light demanding fruit species. As most of the crop is developing from buds on one year old shoots and 2-yearold wood, the formation of bare wood can be seen apparently in a badly maintained canopy. The formation of „whip shoots” indicates the degree of bare wood. Unfortunately in many gardens and commercial orchards sour cherry trees resemble willow trees. Owners often decide to grub old orchards, although the useful cropping lifespan of the trees planted in a correct spacing can be 20-30 years on a move vigorous rootstock. Therefore renewal pruning can contribute to the full renewal of the orchard, but the length of its effect is depending on the growth characteristics and renewal capabilities of the cultivar. The growth characteristics of the cultivars are different. The regeneration capabilities of different aged wood are also different. These differences emphasize the need for cultivar specifi c pruning. Knowing the reactions to renewal pruning, we can ensure regular high crops with excellent quality by applying cultivar specifi c rotation pruning