THE GRAFTING SUCCESS OF FOURTEEN GENOTYPES GRAFTED ON THREE DIFFERENT ROOTSTOCKS ON PRODUCTION OF SWEET CHERRY (Prunus avium L.) SAPLING

This study was conducted in Canakkale Province, Bayramic County between 2011 and 2013. The aim of this study was to determine the best rootstock x genotype combination by grafting 14 standard and local sweet cherry genotypes cultivated in Amasya Province on Mazzard, Gisela 5 and Gisela 6 rootstocks with T-budding method. Graftings were conducted on August 15th in both years. Following the grafting, the average daily temperature and relative humidity values in addition to bud sprout ratios and graft shoot lengths and diameters were examined. The experiment location was suitable for fall T-budding based on obtained climate data. The results of research showed that cherry genotypes and rootstocks had significant effects on bud sprout ratio. The best bud sprout rates among the sweet cherry genotypes and rootstocks were obtained from 'Kargayuregi' genotype (100%) and Gisela 6 rootstock (91.4 and 94.5%, respectively) in both year. Graft shoot lengths and diameters showed differences depending on genotypes and rootstocks. Among the sweet cherry genotypes and rootstocks, the best graft shoot length were obtained from 'Kargayuregi' genotype and Gisela 5 rootstock in both year. The highest graft shoot diameter values among the sweet cherry genotypes and rootstocks were obtained from 'Bing' genotype and Gisela 5 rootstock in both years. As a result, it was shown that the 14 sweet cherry genotypes cultivated in Amasya can be successfully grafted on Mazzard, Gisela 5 and Gisela 6 cherry rootstocks and that 1(st) and 2(nd) class sweet cherry saplings can be produced.