Cherry cultivation has a long tradition in Bosnia and Herzegovina mainly due to favorable climatic conditions for cherry growing in this region. However, current cherry production is insufficient because of prevailing old cultivars and rootstocks. Modern intensive production of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) requires planting of high quality cultivars on dwarfing rootstocks planted in high density orchards. Cherry rootstock breeding programs worldwide require data on tolerance and performance of their rootstocks in different climatic conditions. Therefore, the influence of two cherry rootstocks ('Gisela 5 and 'Santa Lucia 64') on phenological events (blooming), growth and pomological properties of two cherry cultivars ('Stella' and 'Burlat') planted in modern orchard (managed according to standard commercial practice for integrated fruit production), near Sarajevo was evaluated. The trees grafted on 'Gisela 5' rootstocks were planted in 2004 and on 'Santa Lucia 64' in 2005. All tress were trained in a spindle system and the analyzed parameters were monitored in 2010. Rootstocks greatly influenced blooming time, growth and fruit characteristics of both investigated cultivars. The weaker rootstock was 'Gisela 5', which stimulated earlier blooming and caused statistically significant better fruit characteristics (fruit size, % flesh of fruit as well as total soluble solids content in fruit). The results of the analysis showed that both cherry cultivars reached better fruit quality on 'Gisela 5'. 'Stella' had better fruit quality than 'Burlat'. 'Santa Lucia 64' proved a better rootstock for 'Burlat' than for 'Stella'.

Summary The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of cultivar and storage time on the total phenol content (TPC) of three actual apple cultivars (Topaz, Pinova, Pink Lady) and three autochthonous apple cultivars (Ruzmarinka, Ljepocvjetka, Paradija) as well to determine their physical and chemical characteristics. Total phenol content has been determined by Folin- Ciocalteu reagent during cold storage at 1 °C, for 60 days. Changes of apple juice samples phenolics in relation to oxidation time after pressing (0 hours, 2 h and 4 h) were examined. A significant variation in content of phenols in apple cultivars under investigation was noted. Paradija, autochthonous apple contained the highest content of phenols (1.003 g GAE/L), while Topaz, actual apple cultivar had the lowest content (0.596 g GAE/L), during the storage time. TPC of apple cultivars stayed at a relatively constant level during the storage, with the exception of Pink Lady and Paradija apples, where TPC changed significantly during cold storage. The level of TPC in cloudy apple juice samples of all apple cultivars decreased during the oxidation time after pressing.