Delayed flowering and reduced branching in micropropagated mature wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) compared with rooted cuttings and seedlings

The development of micropropagated wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) was compar ed in the nursery and the field with cuttings and seedlings, over a total p eriod of ti years. Summer semi-hardwood cuttings tended to produce moderate numbers of branches in the season following propagation, whereas microprop agules and seedlings produced significantly fewer or none at all. Removal o f branches from cuttings resulted in taller trees. A greater proportion of cuttings than micropropagules flowered in the first year in which trees pro duced flowers. In the second flowering year, there were no differences in f lowering habit between cuttings and micropropagules. Propagation by cutting s or micropropagation did not consistently affect increments in stem diamet ers or heights. These results are discussed in terms of the suitability of micropropagation and cuttings to produce clonal wild cherry.