Determination of the Effects of Protected Cultivation on Phenological Development, Pomological Characteristics, and Fruit Volatile Compounds in AEPKİ07 and AEPKİ08 Cherry Cultivars

This study was conducted to determine the effects of protected and open-field cultivation on phenological development, pomological characteristics, and fruit volatile compounds in the cherry cultivars AEPKİ07 and AEPKİ08 grafted onto MaxMa14 rootstock under the ecological conditions of Gönen, Balıkesir. The covering material was installed at the bud swelling stage and removed at the end of harvest. The phenological stages monitored included beginning of flowering, full bloom, end of flowering, green fruit stage, colour break, full colouring, and harvest maturity. Fruit samples for pomological analyses were collected on 29 April, 6 May, 13 May, and 20 May 2021. Standard morphometric measurements were performed on the fruit samples, volatile compounds were analysed by GC–MS, and the data were evaluated using SAS 9.0 statistical software. Protected cultivation advanced phenological development in both cultivars. Flowering under protected conditions began approximately 7–10 days earlier than in the open field, while harvest maturity was reached 8–10 days earlier. In terms of pomological traits, protected cultivation promoted the development of larger fruit, with this effect being more pronounced in AEPKİ08. At harvest, fruit width, fruit length, and fruit weight of AEPKİ08 grown under protected conditions were 33.00 mm, 26.98 mm, and 14.25 g, respectively, whereas the corresponding values in the open field were 28.10 mm, 22.51 mm, and 8.86 g. In AEPKİ07, protected cultivation also had a positive effect on fruit width, fruit length, and fruit weight, although the differences were not as marked as those observed in AEPKİ08. Volatile compound analysis identified a total of 34 compounds across both cultivars and all sampling periods. Hexenal, benzaldehyde, E-2-hexenal, benzyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, linalool, and limonene were identified as the major aroma-active constituents. The findings showed that protected cultivation influenced not only earliness and fruit size but also aroma formation. In conclusion, protected cherry cultivation offers considerable potential for early and high-quality production; however, cultivar-specific responses should be considered when evaluating the suitability of this system.