Breeding report of a new Chinese cherry cultivar Fendaiyingzhu

Fendaiyingzhu is a new cultivar selected from the seedling resources of Chinese cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus L.). In 2008, during the germplasm resource investigation on Chinese cherry in Ningbo, a dark purple, sweet-tasting and high- yield Chinese cherry seedling tree (superior plant) was discovered in Liangnong Town and identified as 4-29. The biological characteristics of the mother tree and grafted trees were investigated from 2009 to 2019 in different locations. The results indicated that the morphology and biology of the mother plant and its grafted offsprings remained stable. Application for the protection of the new cultivar right was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China. And the National Certificate of the right to new varieties of plants was obtained on 30 November, 2022 (variety rights number: CNA20191002168) and the new cultivar was formally named Fendaiyingzhu. The floral characteristics are as follows: The inflorescence of corymbs usually has 3-6 flowers. A flower has 5 round petals, 1 pistil, 32-41 stamens with the purple-red anthers. The petal color is pink at the beginning of flowering and turns to light pink gradually with the opening time. Fendaiyingzhu has self-fertility ability. The fruits are dark purple, oblate shape, not easy to crack and few deformed. The average single fruit mass is 2.25 g with the maximum up to 3.91 g. The flesh is light yellow. The soluble solids content is about 15.90%, the titratable acid content is 0.34%, and the vitamin C content is 12.20 mg per 100 g. The fruit stalk is short with an average length of 1.51 cm, thick and not easy to fall off. The fruit development period is about 52 d in Ningbo region, Zhejiang province. The mature period is around May 1st, about 7 days later than that of the main early maturing variety Zhujiduanbing. The whole harvest period can continue for 15 days. The growth vigor of the trees is medium, tree gesture is half upright and the tree branch ability is middle. The variety has early fruiting ability and high yield. Flowering and fruiting begins in the third year after planting and the period of high yield is from 5 to 6years after planting. The more fruits are produced on short, middle and long fruit branches, and the fruiting locations are easy to shift outwards. The variety has strong adaptability and disease resistance, and is easy to plant. It is suitable for planting in sandy loam and similar habitat with good drainage and deep soil layer. The recommended spacing within rows and between rows is 3 m×4 m or 4 m×4 m.