Preliminary results of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) collection in Jumilla, Murcia, Spain

In the Region of Murcia (Spain), the interest on sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is increasing, due to our Mediterranean climate which allows us to obtain a profitable sweet cherry production. The behaviour of 69 cultivars was compared in a collection located in Jumilla, between 2011 and 2012. Fruit quality parameters as fruit size, sugar content and susceptibility to cracking were recorded for each cultivar. Phenological traits such flowering period, harvesting period and harvest date were taken. Productivity, number of clusters in 25 cm of branch and number of buds in each cluster were recorded. Significant differences among cultivars were detected in this period of study. The first cultivar to flower was 'Cristobalina' (March 3) and the last one was 'Hudson' (April 2). The interval of days between the flowering and the harvest time was different for all the cultivars and vary between 25 days for 'Primulat' and 65 days for 'Sweetheart'. 'Cristobalina' was the first to harvest and the last one was 'Summerland' The lowest production was measured in 'Big Lory' with 0.6 kg tree^-1, the medium production was 8.2 kg tree^-1 in 'Prime Giant' and the maximum was 'Sylvia' with 27.5 kg tree^-1. The biggest size was recorded on 'Early Lory' (30 mm) and the lowest one on 'Cristobalina' (20 mm).