Vegetative and Reproductive Development of ¿lapins¿ Sweet Cherry Trees Under Rain Protective Covering

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of rain protective covers on the vegetative and reproductive development and fruit quality of sweet cherry trees. The trial was conducted in the 2010-2011 season in a commercial orchard in Collipulli, Chile, with gabled (Vöen ®) crop covers on 10 rows. In half of each row, trees were protected with rain covers from bud-burst, and the other half was protected from first red colour development of the fruit onwards; a treatment without protective rain cover served as control. The following variables were assessed: temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, phenology, intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR), fruit development, foliar area, flower bud differentiation, fruit set, vegetative growth and fruit quality at harvest and after conventional cold storage were measured. The protective covering filtered approximately 40% of incident PAR. Crop cover at budburst advanced tree phenology and increased shoot length. Fruits of cherry trees protected during the colour development phase showed less colour. Protective covering installed at bud-burst increased fruit size, weight and soluble solids concentration, but with more cracking at the style-end scar of the fruit and with reduced fruit firmness. Flower bud differentiation was advanced by both treatments.

Influence of the Plastic Cover on the Protection of Sweet Cherry Fruit Against Cracking, on the Microclimate under Cover and Fruit Quality

“…1). Lowering the light intensity due to plastic cover in 2018 was similar as in the trial by Schmitz-Eiberger and Blanke (2012), Wallberg and Sagredo (2014), where a 60% light reduction by the foil cover was recorded. The light intensity under covers (38-63%) could be sufficient for satisfactory growth and fruiting of trees assuming that such light energy would penetrate uniformly the whole canopy (Mika & Buler 2016).…”

“…In our survey, a tendency was observed that the fruits that ripened under the covering had a paler skin color, but the contents of anthocyanins were not significantly different (Table 4). Wallberg and Sagredo (2014) also reported that the fruit of cherry trees covered during the color development phase showed lighter color.…”

“…In a trial by Wallberg and Sagredo (2014) in Chile, the protective covering filtered approximately 40% of incident PAR, which stimulates shoot growth and reduced fruit coloration. The protective covering installed at flower bud-burst increased fruit size, weight and soluble solids content, but reduced fruit firmness.…”

“…The protective covering installed at flower bud-burst increased fruit size, weight and soluble solids content, but reduced fruit firmness. According to Wallberg and Sagredo (2014) covering advanced flower bud differentiation.…”

Impact of Potassium Pre-Harvest Applications on Fruit Quality and Condition of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Cultivated under Plastic Covers in Southern Chile Orchards

“…Wallberg and Sagredo (2014) evaluated the effect of rain protective covers on the vegetative and reproductive development and fruit quality of sweet cherry trees (cultivar Lapins) in Chile [74]. They reported that protective covers filtered approximately 40% of incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), stimulating shoot growth and reducing fruit coloration.…”