The Development of Cuticular Fractures in Fruits of Sweet Cherries ( Prunus AviumL.) Can Vary with Cultivar and Rootstock

Abstract

The question of whether the development of cuticular fractures in fruits of sweet cherries varies by cultivar or rootstock was evaluated. Fruits were classified on a scale ranging from 1 (no visible fractures) to 5 (many distinct fractures). Two sweet cherry cultivars grown under similar conditions developed cuticular fractures differently; 62% of the 'Van' fruits were classified into class 3 while in 'Sunburst' there was a more even distribution among all five classes. Sweet cherry fruits from a trial with six different rootstocks developed different amounts of cuticular fractures; fruits of 'Ulster' showed significant differences among rootstocks, while fruits of 'Stella' varied less in fracture development. Another trial with 'Lapins' on nine different rootstocks in 2002 also produced fruits with different amounts of cuticular fractures. An investigation of the influence of cuticular fractures on cracking susceptibility of the fruits demonstrated that cultivars with many fractures cracked more easily than cultivars with unfractured cuticles.