S16 - Session O1 - Training system effects on light interception and fruit size of Kordia sweet cherry on Krymsk 5

Authors: Cameron Stone, Dugald Close *, Sally Bound

Semi-dwarfing rootstocks are enabling the adoption of high-density cherry orchard plantings, however there is a lack of information on training systems that optimise light capture and fruit quality. The aim of this study was to investigate light penetration and fruit quality at three canopy heights (0.4 m, 1.2 m and 2 m) in 'Kordia' on 'Krymsk 5' rootstock trained to the following systems: upright fruiting offshoot (UFO), tall spindle axe (TSA), super spindle axe (SSA), Bibaum (BB) and steep leader (SL). The study was conducted in a commercial orchard within a Cravo protected cropping infrastructure that features retractable roofing in the 2020-21 season on trees in their 5 th leaf. Light penetration tended towards lowest at 0.4 m for BB (13%) followed by SL (19%), TSA (19%) SSA (21%) and UFO (28%). Fruit colour was darker (L*) in UFO compared to SL and BB at the low canopy height (0.4 m). Independent of training system, average fruit weight (12.1 g), TSS (19.3 Brix) and stem pull force (1082 g mm -1 ) were higher in fruit low in the canopy compared to high in the canopy (11.3 g, 18.1 Brix and 999 g mm -1 stem pull). The highest yielding training system was SL (20.5 t ha -1 ) followed by UFO (17.8 t ha -1 ), SSA (11.2 t ha -1 ), BB (10.1 t ha -1 ) and TSA (7.9 t ha -1 ). The findings of this study will inform decisions on training systems for lateral fruiting cherry cultivars at high density plantings.