Sweet cherries are self-incompatible and cannot be fertilized by their own pollen. A gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system determines fertility in sweet cherries and prevents pollination with own and genetically related pollen.
This mechanism is controlled by a multi-allelic S-locus coding for two genes involved in fertilization: the S-allele-specific ribonuclease (S-RNase) expressed in the female style and the S-specific F-box protein (SFB) in the male pollen. Since the beginning of the 20th century, systematic studies have been carried out to describe the fertilization relationships between sweet cherry cultivars.
Since then, information on the S-genotypes of sweet cherry cultivars has been constantly increasing. This information is very important for cherry growing, breeding, and breeding research. The S-genotypes of sweet cherry cultivars were collected by evaluating S-allele studies described in the literature. The S-genotypes of 1,700 sweet cherry accessions were recorded.
A summary of all the results of S-genotyping in sweet cherries can be found in "Self-incompatibility (S) genotypes of cultivated sweet cherries – An overview 2023-Update" published in the OpenAgrar repository, https://doi.org/10.5073/20230302-143854-0
Mirko Schuster, Susan Schröpfer, Henryk Flachowsky
Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops, Julius Kühn-Institut (DE)
17 Oct 2025
Chile's 2025/26 cherry season starts with a surprise: Colchagua beats Ovalle with AG2, harvested on October 13. 3J and 4J-sized cherries are already on their way to China. Meanwhile, the north kicks off its harvest with Brooks and Nimba, determined not to fall behind.
17 Jan 2025
An impressive 59% growth in exports to the vast Chinese market has turned into a harsh “reality check. The excess supply has saturated the market and caused a 50% price drop, which no one had predicted. The situation has alarmed the Chilean industry of ambassadors in Asia.
22 Apr 2026
International Plant Selection launches the ZIC club to exclusively manage Zaiger Genetics cherry varieties in Europe. France, Spain and Murcia are involved, as climate change accelerates the need for new cherry cultivars that are more resilient, productive and adaptable.
22 Apr 2026
Chile strengthens its dominance in cherry exports to China, but the 2025–2026 season shows a price drop of over 30%. Spain’s entry into the Asian market introduces new competition, as demand remains strong but the product’s positioning continues to evolve.
