The impact of the time of pruning of Skeena variety cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) on the fruit quality and yield

Abstract

The study was carried out between 2018 and 2020, in the central area of the Republic of Moldova. The purpose of the research was to assess the effect of the pruning of Skeena variety cherry trees (Prunus avium L.), grafted on the Maxima 14 rootstocks, during the rest and vegetative phase. The pruning was done as follows: during the rest period (control group), during the flowering period; after the harvesting (in July) and in early autumn (the first decade of September). The quantity of fruit 24 mm and downwards in diameter was small in all variant. The pruning performed in early autumn reduced the amount of small fruit and increased the number of the fruit the diameter of which was 28 mm and upwards. At the same time, the expansion of the fruit size led to a slight increase in the fruit yield. The content of the soluble dry matter and titratable acidity in the fruit was almost not affected. It is necessary to conduct researches into the pruning during the vegetative phase for the purpose of the improvement of the fruit quality and the distribution of the fruit by commercial sizes, without affecting the crop yield. A long-term study, on the other hand, would be needed to assess the impact of the pruning time on harvests and, especially, on the commercial type of fruit.