Breeding report of a new Chinese cherry cultivar Liangnonghong

Abstract: Liangnonghong was an excellent variety selected from the seedling resources of Chinese cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus L.) in 2008 for its large fruit and bright colors. The morphology and biology of the mother plant and its grafted offsprings were stable. After regional adaptability testing at three sites (including Yuyao, Xiangshan, Dongyang counties) from 2016 to 2021, it was finally selected in 2022. About this cultivar, an inflorescence of corymbs usually contains 3-6 flowers. The flowers are large, with an average diameter of 2.98 cm and a maximum diameter of 3.42 cm. A flower has 5 round petals, 1 pistil, and 28-37 stamens with the purple-red anthers. The color of the petals gradually fades with the opening time, changing from rose red to white. The amount of pollen is large, and the pollen germination rate can reach 52.17%. Liangnonghong has strong self- fruitfulness ability. Fruit is heart-shaped with few deformed fruits and a slightly protruding top. The average single fruit mass is 4.5 g and it is up to 7.4 g at maximum. The fruit skin is purplish red and the flesh is light yellow. The soluble solids content of the flesh is about 15.6%, the titratable acid content is 0.32%, and the vitamin C content is 5.78 mg · 100 g^-1. The fruit stalk is long and thick with an average length of 2.01 cm and a maximum length of 2.14 cm. The fruit stalk is not easy to fall off. The fruit is not easy to crack and can be stored for 2-3 days at room temperature. The integrated quality of the fruit is excellent. In Ningbo region, Zhe-jiang province, the fruit development period is about 48 d. The mature period is in Mid-late April, 4-7 days later than that of the main early maturing variety Zhujiduanbing. The whole harvest period can continue for 10- 13 days. The variety can bear fruits earlier and has good yield. The tree can bear a small amount of fruits in the second year after planting and enters the massive fruiting period in 5-6 years after planted. The average yield can reach 5700 kg·hm^-2. The more fruits are produced on middle and long branches of the young trees, while the fruits of adult trees are rich on boundray branches, short fruit branches and medium and long fruit branches, and the fruiting parts are easy to shift outwards. The plant has strong growth vigor, strong adaptability and disease resistance, and is easy to cultivate. It is suitable for planting on sandy loam and similar habitat with good drainage and deep soil layer. Grafting propagation is the main method. Spacing in the row and spacing between rows are (3-4) m×4 m. The tree shape is appropriate to apply open-center system or central leader system.