Morphological and Pomological Traits of 'kutahya Sour Cherry (Prunus Cerasus) Grafted on Rootstocks of Prunus Avium and Prunus Mahaleb in Van Conditions

Abstract

A study was conducted during 1999-2000 on fruits and trees of 'Kutahya' sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) grafted on [Prunus avium (L.) L.] and Prunus mahaleb L. rootstocks to determine pomological, morphological and chemical characteristics under climatic conditions of Van, Turkey. Its full flowering period was 10 May and 5 May on Prunus avium and 6 May and 8 May on Prunus mahaleb in the first and second year respectively. In the first year, its fruits harvested on 5 July had 2.97 g fruit weight, 32.46% titratable acidity, 17.48% soluble solids, 1.13 (kg/cm2) fruit flesh firmness on Prunus mahaleb and 2.47 g fruit weight, 31.18% titratable acidity, 18.25% soluble solids and 0.62 (kg/cm2) fruit flesh firmness on Prunus avium. In the second year, fruits were harvested on 3, 5, 7 and 10 July on Prunus mahaleb, and on 3, 5 and 7 July on Prunus avium, 'Kutahya' had 3.08-3.94 g for fruit weight, 2.55-3.07% for acidity, 15.72-16.53% for soluble solids and 1.16-1.53 (kg/cm2) for fruit flesh firmness on Prunus mahaleb in the second year, and 2.59-3.28 g for fruit weight, 2.47-2.75% for acidity, 13.60-15.30% for soluble solids and 1.27-1.53 (kg/cm2) for fruit flesh firmness on Prunus avium. On both rootstocks, fruit skin and fruit flesh skin were dark coloured and fruit flesh colour was light red or red. The harvest time of this cultivar was later than the other parts of Turkey because of heavy climatic conditions and altitude of Van, and this can be considered as an important local advantage in terms of harvest season extending its marketing life.