CROWN SHAPING AND PRUNING OF SWEET CHERRY TREES WHICH OPTIMIZE THE RATIO BETWEEN GROWTH AND FRUCTIFICATION

The vigour of the variety-rootstock association, the crown shape, the planting distance, the age of the trees, and the tree pruning pattern have been examined. The studies regarding the establishment of sweet cherry orchards, as well as the growth and fruiting of the 'Valerii Cikalov', 'Record', 'Ferrovia', 'Kordia', 'Regina', 'Stella', 'Skeena', 'Bigarreau Burlat', 'Lapins', 'Early Star', 'Samba', 'Black Star' sweet cherry trees grafted on the Prunus mahaleb L., 'MaxMa 14' and 'Gisela 6' rootstocks, in different combinations and planting distances, have been carried out in the Southern and Central fruit-growing area of the Republic of Moldova. High vigorous trees are used on non-irrigated soils in association with self-fertile varieties at optimal planting distances that ensure high yields. The sweet cherry trees, grafted on the semi vigorous rootstocks ('Gisela 6') and the moderate vigour rootstocks ('MaxMa 14') are used on fertile soils and irrigated at high densities. They can provide medium vigour of trees, which can be handled completely from the ground level, produce early average yields, with low pruning and fruit harvesting costs due to increased labour productivity. The pruning done during the growing period resulted in the vegetative growth of the trees and the formation of fruiting branches that produced better flower buds compared to the pruning done during the dormant period. The rootstock-variety association should be chosen in accordance with the direct task, the growing system and the applied technology.