Abstract
BACKGROUND: Modern orchards are established with intensive planting systems that ensure early fruiting, high fruit yield and quality, and minimize labor costs, especially during harvesting. To meet the expectations of intensive planting systems, the most important factor is the selection of suitable rootstocks for climate and soil conditions. This study was conducted to determine the effects of combinations created with cold-resistant Krymsk 5, semi-dwarf rootstocks Gisela 6 and Piku 1, which are suitable for dense planting, and the sweet cherry varieties 0900 Ziraat and Regina, on their morphological, pomological, and biochemical properties. RESULTS: Tree height, fruit weight, and total phenolic content in trees grafted onto Krymsk 5 rootstocks, and fruit firmness in trees grafted onto Gisela 6 rootstocks, were higher than in other rootstocks. The 0900 Ziraat cultivar showed significantly higher fruit weight, fruit width, and fruit length than the Regina cultivar. In contrast, the a*, b* values, vitamin C, anthocyanin, and antioxidant content in the Regina cultivar were significantly higher than those in the 0900 Ziraat. The rootstock x cultivar interactions had a significant effect on some properties. CONCLUSION: It was revealed that trees grafted onto Krymsk 5 rootstocks exhibited greater vegetative growth, and the fruit obtained from these trees was richer in terms of phytochemical content. Krymsk 5 is a potential rootstock for grafting with elite local cherry scions.