Cherry breeding projects and new rootstocks with the Corette® series

11 Jun 2024
1080

Cherry Times offers its readers the reports on cherry rootstocks presented at the Macfrut 2024 International Rootstock Symposium.

The most important advance in rootstock breeding for sweet and sour cherry occurred near the turn of the century, with the commercialization of the Gisela series of interspecific Prunus hybrids that conferred precocity, productivity, and a range of vigor levels to scion varieties.

This stimulated horticultural and physiological research that led to innovations in sweet cherry orchard production systems, resulting in improved yields, fruit quality, and labor efficiencies.

Consequently, Michigan State University sour cherry breeder Amy Iezzoni began evaluating dozens of sour cherry crosses and collected germplasm for their potential as cherry rootstocks, resulting in the Corette® series of precocious and productive dwarfing to semi-dwarfing rootstocks (Cass, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Lake) and several semi-vigorous, less precocious rootstocks (Lincoln, King).

Image 1: Gregory Lang.

Sweet and sour cherry scions grafted onto the dwarfing to semi-dwarfing rootstocks exhibit relative vigor levels that vary from site to site, based on results thus far from the NC140 coordinated research trials across North America. Relative yields also have varied by site and by year (given some significant impacts of extreme climatic events in some locations).

In general, vigor levels and productivity are comparable to those exhibited by trees on Gisela® 3 and Gisela® 5. In several sites, suckering has been excessive on Clare and significant on Cass and Lake, with minimal suckering generally observed on Clinton and Crawford (similar to Gisela® 3 and 5). At least three more years of data from these trials, and other observations, is needed before strong grower recommendations can be made.

Download the full report here

Download the presentation here

Gregory A. Lang
Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University
langg@msu.edu


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

A report on the 2022-23 season shows an early season, nice sizes and good average prices

Markets

01 Sep 2023

The Chilean company CyD Asesoría Agrícola compiled a report on the 2022-2023 season. This data was analysed by several exporters to better understand price fluctuations, providing management tools for producers to refine their profitability.

California cherries: the state recovers after the disappointments of the 2023 season

Production

12 Apr 2024

"This year we have a more typical seasonal timing," said Mark Calder of Primavera Marketing - "Some of the earlier varieties could be out by 25 April, with a steady volume in the southern San Joaquin Valley by 5 May."

In evidenza

Brassinolide protects “Tieton” cherries from cold damage during storage in China

Post-harvest​

26 Jun 2025

A study from Yantai, China shows that brassinolide application improves the storage of “Tieton” cherries, significantly reducing cold damage, weight loss, and degradation of visual and nutritional quality of the fruits during prolonged cold storage conditions.

Meda cherries tested in 12 European countries, first fruits harvested in the Netherlands

Varieties

26 Jun 2025

Meda cherries gain traction across Europe: trials in 12 countries, first harvest in the Netherlands, and over 1,200 hectares assigned worldwide. The project spans USA, Chile, South Africa and China, focusing on quality, earliness, innovation and agronomic sustainability.

Tag Popolari