Cherry Times offers its readers the reports on cherry rootstocks presented at the Macfrut 2024 International Rootstock Symposium.
The Krymsk Experimental Breeding Station has a long history of breeding interspecific rootstocks for stone fruit. The 6000 Prunus accessions in their collection are being used for combining useful traits of stress and disease resistances into new interspecific rootstock genotypes suitable as rootstocks for multiple stone fruit species.
For testing and propagation in Europe, the United States and several other countries outside Russia, Varieties International has obtained a license and has imported several promising rootstocks suitable for almond, apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach and plum.
The selection of these interspecific rootstocks was made on basis of the induced tree vigor and tolerance to various environmental stresses like drought, flooding, frost and the pH and salt content of the soil. At present seven Krymsk rootstocks have been patented and have been commercially released.
Image 1: Frank Maas.
Since 2017 about 20 new selections have been imported into Europe and the USA. After release from quarantine these rootstocks have been propagated and test trees have been grown. In Europe the first test trees of plum varieties ‘Jubilieum’ and ‘Opal’ and sweet cherry varieties ‘Kordia’ and ‘Regina’ were planted in 2023, using rootstock genotypes with a vigor between very dwarfing to semi-dwarfing.
After the first growing season in the differences in tree vigor are already becoming visible. However, it will take several more years to evaluate how the fruit production and growth the trees will develop and to find out which of these rootstocks will be a better choice for the fruit grower than the ones currently used.
Download the full report here
Download the presentation here
Frank Maas
Varieties International/Nedworc Foundation
frank.maas.nl@gmail.com
31 May 2024
Traditionally, the cherry season in Uzbekistan ended in mid-June, but in 2024 it will start as soon as the last week of May. This could create problems for exports because even in Ukraine, local cherries are already being actively harvested and sold.
06 Dec 2024
A study analyzed 10 sour cherry cultivars focusing on varietal characteristics, climatic factors, and fruit and stone weight. These data highlight significant variability among the cultivars and underscore the importance of genetic and environmental factors.
19 Oct 2026
Global cherry production is forecast to reach a record 5.4 million tonnes in 2026/27 up by 17%, according to the USDA. Rising Chilean exports and Chinese imports point to stronger competition for Argentina’s Patagonia during the shared Southern Hemisphere export season.
19 Oct 2026
South African cherries turn to the domestic market as production rises 17% in 2024/25 and export prices fall 27%. Local demand helps sustain the value of the industry. A look at leading varieties, planted areas and the main destinations for South African cherry exports.
