A new mid-late ripening sweet cherry cultivar Chunjia

Abstract：Chunjia is a new mid-late ripening sweet cherry cultivar bred from a cross between Van and Longguan at Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, CAAS. The breeding work started in March 2002, and mature hybrid fruits were collected from Van and stored in a 4 ℃ refrigerator for low-temperature stratification treatment. In the spring of 2003, the seeds were sown in the greenhouse and one hundred and twenty hybrid seedlings were planted successfully. In the spring of 2004, the seedlings were transplanted into the breeding nursery of Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute. By the spring of 2007, most seedlings started to bear fruits. The indicators of fruit were investigated for three years from 2008 to 2010, including maturity period, soluble solids content, titratable acid, fruit weight and fruit firmness. The offspring numbered 22-55 was selected as a final superior strain for its big fruit, good taste and stable high yield. It was grafted on a ZY-1 semi-dwarf rootstock and planted in four different areas for variety evaluation test starting from 2011. The variety was examined and approved by Henan Forest Tree Variety Evaluation Committee and named Chunjia in 2021. The tree is upright with strong growth vigor and branches. It has some characteristics including crack resistance, excellent storage capacity, wide adaptability, high temperature resistance during flowering, and flavor with enjoyable taste. The fruits of Chunjia fruits are round with flat fruit top, and dark red-skinned with glossy surface, and the average fruit weight is 9.8 g. The flesh is red with the pink juice, the soluble solid content is 20.8%, the soluble sugar content is 14.52%, the titratable acid is 1.06%, and the vitamin C content is 12.6 mg·100 g-1 . The fruit quality is excellent with rich flavor, crunchy flesh for storage and transportation, and a high commodity fruit rate. In Zhengzhou, Chunjia flowers open on March 30- 31, with a flowering period of about a week, and fruits mature in late May, with a fruit development period of about 58 days. Chunjia is a self- incompatible variety with the S- genotype S1S9, and the suitable pollinated varieties includeTieton, Chunlu, Milu, Santina, etc. Generally, grafted seedlings begin to bear the first fruits in the third year after being planted, and enter the full fruiting stage in the fifth year with a yield of over 1200 kg per 666.7 m² .