ORIENTĂRI NOI ÎN CULTURA CIREŞULUI

Under eco-pedo-climatic condition of Romania the sweet cherry growing sistems was studied, in the last 30 years. The old plantations have small number of trees/ha and high trees, grafted on generative rootstocks, very dificult to grow. The vigour of sweet cherry trees was significantly reduced by vegetative rootstocks, in the last period. The number of cultivars is extensive and this is due to specific needs for environmental adaptation and strong local tradition. Generally, the plantations are dominated by old cultivars as a result of trees longevity and grower, s coservatism. Planting density was a function of rootstocks vigour and varied from 300 to 1000 trees per ha and the yield icreased from 3 to, on the clasic plantations to 25 tone per ha on the intensive plantations. This is more evident in the East European countries where the new varieties have comming late especially in the small private orchards. On the whole it is visible the dominance of „bigarreau ” cultivars with attractive large, firm, red colored fruits and „Napoleon” type varieties with yelow surface covered by red blush and clear juise. It is obviously the grower, s purpose in the increasing production on the fresh market where the big size and fruits attractivity is without fail required to get a good price.