Rootstock Affects the Number of Flowers in the Floral Bud in Sweet Cherries

Abstract

In fruit cultivation, each flower is a fruit if it sets fruit. For this reason, the number of flowers in each floral bud is an important factor determining the yield. Many factors such as genetic characteristics of the variety, rootstock, and climate affect the number of flowers in the floral bud. The study aimed to determine the effect of rootstocks on the number of flowers in the floral buds of sweet cherries. The study was carried out in mid-northern Anatolia during 2021-2022. In the experiment, M x M 14, CAB 6P, Gisela 6 and PHL-C cherry rootstocks, and 'Kordia', '0900 Ziraat', 'Regina' and 'Starks Gold' sweet cherry cultivars were used. It was observed that the rootstock had an effect on the number of flowers in the floral buds of cultivars on different rootstocks used in the study. PHLC and Gisela 6 rootstocks, relatively more dwarf compared to M x M 14 and CAB 6P rootstocks, exhibited similar behaviour in terms of the number of flowers in the floral buds.