Characterization of Selected Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Varieties using DUS Test Guidelines

The present study was conducted to characterize and decipher the genetic variability among twenty sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) varieties. Different morphological traits namely, growth habit, foliage, flower, fruit and stone characteristics were studied for further improvement and utilization. Growth habit varied from upright (5 varieties) to semi-upright and spreading (15 varieties). Shape of leaves was observed as obovate and lanceolate. Most of the varieties were late in maturity early. Huge variation was recorded for quality determining traits namely, fruit size, shape, flesh and skin colour. Fruit shape was observed as reniform in fourteen varieties and elliptic in rest of the varieties except cordate in Rainier. Fruit firmness was found to be soft and intermediate for the most of the varieties, whereas, varieties viz., Lambert, Rainier, Red Heart, Stella and Sunburst had hard fruit firmness.