Realization of the generative potential of the productivity of sweet cherry varieties (Cerasus avium L.) under abiotic stress conditions in southern Russia

Abstract

The instability of the changing climate has led to an increase in abiotic stress factors of the winter-spring period, causing a decrease in sweet cherry yield, which necessitates the development of new approaches and methods to stabilize the productivity of cherry varieties. The purpose of the study was to identify sweet cherry varieties with a high realization of biopotential productivity in the annual development cycle under the influence of abiotic stress factors for adaptive horticulture in the south of Russia and breeding. The objects of research were 20 varieties of sweet cherry (Cerasus avium L.), of various geographical origin and maturation period. The study of the implementation of biological productivity against the background of weather anomalies in the conditions of the Prikubanskaya horticultural zone of the Krasnodar Territory allowed identifying stable varieties of sweet cherry, whichwill become the basis for creating an adaptive regional assortment and changing breeding strategies to increase yields. A critical period has been established for the realization of the biopotential of the productivity of cherry varieties – the phenophase of flowering, temperature fluctuations during this period were particularly detrimental to the generative organs of the flower and the future harvest. The size of the harvest loss during the period of 2020–2025 varied significantly depending on the impact of abiotic stressors – reduction of the elements of fruiting ranged from 18 to 100%. A comprehensive assessment of sweet cherries allowed identifying the varieties with fairly regular fruiting (Alaya, Anons, Melitopolskaya rannyaya, Chernye glaza, Yuzhnaya, Yasno solnyshko, Kontrastnaya, Krupnoplodnaya and Mak), with a periodicity index of 22.1–39.1%. A positive average correlation (R 2 = 0.696) between the yield and the reduction of fruiting elements (fruit buds and flowers) in sweet cherries has been established. The data obtained show the primary influence of winter-spring weather conditions on the formation of sweet cherry fruit yields, which should be taken into account when developing and planning agronomic measures aimed at increasing the potential yield of plantations in conditions of increased abiotic stressors.