Preliminary results of 'Pertus(P)', 'Vera(P)' and 'Carmen(P)' sweet cherry cultivars on Hungarian bred mahaleb rootstocks

Evaluation of ten cherry rootstocks (Bogdany, Egervar, Erdi V, INRA SL64, Korponay, Magyar, SM 11/4, Prunus avium C. 2493, GiSelA 6, control: Prunus mahaleb Cemany INRA SL 64 rootstocks) combined with early ripening sweet cherry cultivars ('Petrus((P))', 'Vera((P))', 'Carmen((P))') has been studied under non-irrigated conditions in Hungary. Aim of this study was to determine suitable rootstocks for novel bred Hungarian sweet cherry cultivars. After four years investigation that 'Petrus((P))' was the most vigorous varieties, which is followed by 'Vera((P))' and 'Carmen((P))'. The GiSelA 6 rootstock had a low vigor among examined rootstocks and INRA SL 64 was the most vigorous one in the trial. 'Petrus((P))' produced the biggest yield and the smallest fruit size among observed cherry cultivars. Yield of 'Carmen((P))' grafted on Erdi V, Egervar, and GiSelA 6 was the highest, but only Erdi V had a positive effect on fruit size because more than 40% of examined fruits were larger than 28.1 mm in diameter. 'Vera((P))' yielded well on Erdi V andgervar, the best fruit size was produced by Erdi V. On the basis of value-yield index, which was calculated by actual market price per fruit size category, 'Carmen((P))' produced the highest income tree(-1) on Egervar and GiSelA 6 and 'Vera((P)) was the most valuable on other rootstocks.