Piku 1

Cherry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'GI 148/1' (Gisela 6)

Summary: The plants of 'Piku 1' have strong vigour and medium branching whereas those of 'GI 148/1' have medium vigour and weak branching. The internode on the one year old shoot of 'Piku 1' is very short with pubescence and few lenticels whereas it is medium length with no pubescence and a medium number of lenticels on 'GI 148/1'. The vegetative bud of 'Piku 1' is adpressed with an acute apex whereas it is slightly held out in relation to the shoot with a rounded apex on 'GI 148/1'. The leaves of 'Piku 1' are longer and wider with a longer petiole than those of 'GI 148/1'. The nectaries of 'Piku 1' are green and predominantly on the petiole whereas those of 'GI 148/1' are yellow and predominantly at the base of the blade.

Description:

PLANT: rootstock variety, strong vigour, upright to spreading growth habit, medium branching

ONE YEAR OLD SHOOT: medium thickness, very short length of internode, pubescent, few lenticels, weak anthocyanin colouration at the apex, strong branching at the end of summer
VEGETATIVE BUD: adpressed position in relation to the shoot, small, acute apex, small vegetative bud support
YOUNG SHOOT: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of young leaf

LEAF BLADE: medium length/width ratio, narrow elliptic shape, acute angle of apex, long tip, truncate base, light green on upper side, weak glossiness, medium pubescence on lower side, small ratio of leaf blade length/petiole length
MARGIN INCISIONS: both crenate and serrate, shallow depth
PETIOLE: weak density of pubescence on upper side, medium depth of groove, medium length stipules
NECTARIES: predominantly two, positioned predominantly on petiole, green, round

FLOWERS: present

Origin & Breeding History: 'Piku 1' arose as a result of an interspecific cross of Prunus avium x (Prunus canescens x Prunus tomentosa) carried out in Dresden-Pillnitz, Germany in 1980. The objectives of the breeding program were dwarfing, graft compatibility with many scion cultivars, upright growth habit in the nursery, precocious scion crop, high yield productivity, improved fruit size and reduced sensitivity to frost and diseases. More than 50 rootstock-hybrids were grafted with several cultivars and tested in orchards in several sites over several years. 'Piku 1' was selected and released in 1997.

Tests & Trials: The trials for 'Piku 1' were conducted at Essex Nurseries, Harrow, Ontario during the 2013 growing season. The trials consisted of 120 plants per variety, planted in 3 rows/variety, measuring approximately 60 metres in length with a 4 metre spacing between the rows. In the rows, the trees were spaced approximately 30cm apart between plants. Measured characteristics were taken from a minimum of 10 plants per variety.

Comparison tables for 'Piku 1' with reference variety 'GI 148/1'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Cherry: 'Piku 1' (right) with reference variety 'GI 148/1' (left)