The impact of the mechanized contour pruning of sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) of the cv Sweet Stephany, grafted on the Gisela 6 rootstock, on fruit production and quality

Abstract

This work is a comparative analysis of the mechanized contour pruning of sweet cherry trees carried out after fruit harvesting in an intensive cultivation system in the northern zone of the Republic of Moldova (47.9163o; 27.4587o; 160 m.) The orchard of sweet cherry trees with slender spindle-shaped crowns of the Sweet Stephany variety, grafted on the Gisela 6 rootstock and planted at a distance of 4x1 m, was established in 2018. The method and degree of contour pruning during the vegetation period of the trees was studied. The fruit quality can be improved using contour pruning without affecting the crop yield. The weight of the fruit (10.92-11.19 g), in the groups where mechanized contour pruning was used, was significantly greater than the weight of the fruit grown using annual maintenance and fruiting pruning (10.75 g). Regardless of the technique and degree of pruning, the Sweet Stephany variety has produced more than 80% of fruit larger than 26 mm in diameter.