Effects of temperature on flower bud differentiation of sweet cherry

Abstract：In order to explore the correlation between flower bud differentiation （FBD） of sweet cherry and ambient temperature, FBD of Hongdeng in the regions Yantai, Zhengzhou and Jinhua, and Zaohong-baoshi cultured in openfield and greenhouse in Zhengzhou was investigated, and the temperature was recorded as well during the period of FBD. The results showed that the time consumption of the FBD of Hongdeng was about 20 to 30 days longer in Zhengzhou than in Yantai, and the time consumption in Zhengzhou and Jinhua was possiblely in approximation. The progression of FBD of Hongdeng and Zao-hongbaoshi was inhibited when temperature was higher than the threshold of 27.0 %, and the FBD of Hongdeng was inhibited when temperature was lower than the threshold of 20.0 %. There was a direct re- lationship between the occurrence of flower malformation and high temperature. The rate and progression of FBD of sweet cherry changed obviously according to the ambient temperature. High or low temperature resulted in the inhibition of FBD and delayed the progression of FBD. It was feasible to utilize the effective accumulated degree days to conjecture the time of initiation and termination of FBD. It was supposed that the suitable temperature range for FBD of sweet cherry was 20.0 to 27.0 %.