Although cherry species have been imported since 1871, sweet cherry cultivation in China began in the 1980s, now reaching more than 230,000 hectares dedicated to this crop.
Considering the economic importance that cherry cultivation is gaining in China, the breeding sector is also actively working to release new cultivars with improved quality traits. Ten national institutions are collaborating to achieve this goal, with 60 new cultivars released and 300 selections under study.
The most important cultivar is 'Hongdeng', accounting for more than 40 percent of total cultivation in China. In addition, the new rootstocks released are Landing 2 and Jingchun 1. The new plantations are characterized by reduced canopy growth, which allows for increased orchard density.
Protected cultivation in tunnels and greenhouses is also well developed in China, facilitating cherry production even in regions with low spring temperatures.
In addition, protected cultivation also facilitates the application of innovative management techniques such as the fully automatic fertirrigation system. Thanks to these advancements, China will soon reap the (sweet) fruits of the work done.
Source: Kaichun Zhang, Cherries in China: germplasm, history, current trends, IX International Cherry Symposium
Melissa Venturi
University of Bologna (IT)
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