Fruit properties of sweet cherry (Prunus Avium L.) Suited for wood production

Abstract

Sweet cherry Prunus avium L. cultivated for wood production is selected and bred mainly based on its growth rate and stem properties to maximize the valuable timber outcome. However, the fruit of sweet cherry has ecological value as food source for animals and can also serve as an income source prior felling. It could be beneficial to consider fruit properties in selection and breeding of cherries for wood production purpose. In this study, we compare the properties, such as volume and moisture content, of fruit collected from cherry orchard and two plantations, where sweet cherry is cultivated for wood production. Based on fruit and trunk properties we select genotypes from cherry orchard, that are promising for further studies and development of locally sourced planting material. Fruit of ten genotypes cultivated for fruit and nine genotypes cultivated for wood was collected in July, 2020. Fruit was then scanned to calculate volume, pitted, weighted and oven dried to obtain dry matter and moisture content. The results show that fruit cultivated in orchard have greater volume and weight, as well as have more pulp compared to genotypes selected for wood production. The relative moisture and dry matter content of the pulp does not follow the same trend, and is not directly associated with morphological properties. Based on fruit size, moisture content and trunk diameter ‘Kazdangas’, ‘Agrais Lielajiem Ķiršiem’, ‘Brjanskaja Rozovaja’ and ‘Muiža’ are the most promising genotypes for further studies aimed to develop planting material with good fruit yield and timber outcomes.