Study of N-phenyl-phthalamic acid effects on fruit setting and fruit quality of sweet, sour and duke cherries

Abstract

Sweet and sour cherry are economically important fruits of the temperate zone. Sweet cherry (P. avium L.) is a diploid (AA, 2n = 2x = 16) and sour cherry (P. cerasus L.) is a tetraploid (AAFF, 2n = 4x = 32), supposed to result from natural hybridization between sweet cherry and ground cherry (P. fruticosa) (FFFF, 2n = 4x = 32). Duke cherry (P x gondouinii) is a tetraploid (AAAF, 2n = 4x = 32) and a natural hybrid between sour and sweet cherry and produces fruits which are intermediate between these two cherry types. In this study, the influence of N-phenyl-phthalamic acid (Nevirol 60 WP) on fruit setting and fruit quality of three commercial cherry species (sweet cherry, sour cherry and duke cherry genotypes) was evaluated. The research results show that the use of Nevirol 60 WPT can improve fruit setting. As a result, fruit yield increased, but fruit quality parameters (weight, length, width and diameter) were decreased. There is a significant difference between the reactions of different cultivars. It is suggested that Nevirol 60 WP has a great effect in improving yield, especially by a good nutrient supply. Also, before using Nevirol 60 WP, consideration must be given to the fact that increased yields require a high nutrient supply.