Gisela 5 (148/2) - Dwarfing rootstock for sweet cherries

The performance of 15 different cultivars on rootstock Gisela 5 (148/2) in an experimental plot at Witzenhausen (near Kassel, Germany) is described and compared to trees on the standard clonal rootstock F12/1 (Prunus avium L.). Besides great differences between the rootstocks, there is a considerable influence of the cultivar on trunk cross sectional area, cumulative yield and yield efficiency. Fruit size is determined by cultivar and year, an effect of crop load could not be detected. Under the conditions of the orchard (no irrigation, extensive pruning), 100-fruit-weight on F12/1-rootstock was better than on Gisela 5.