Articles
Improving fruit growth by photo-selective covers in protected cherry orchards
Article number
1457_81
Pages
647 – 654
Language
English
Abstract
The use of covers has become necessary to protect cherry orchards from rain-induced cracking.
At the same time, maximizing fruit size is a critical aspect of profitable cherry fresh market production.
This research evaluated the use of high-density polyethylene woven (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene plastic (LDPE) photo-selective rain covers to improve fruit size in ‘Santina’ and ‘Sweetheart’ cherry orchards.
Spectral light transmission, total (PPFDtotal) and diffuse (PPFDdiffuse) photosynthetic photon flux density, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation were measured under covered and uncovered conditions.
Absolute fruit growth rate (AGR, g day‑1) and fruit size categories were assessed at different days after full bloom (DAFB) and at harvest, respectively.
LDPE reduced light transmission in the UV-A (350-400 nm) and increased it in the NIR (700-1000 nm) spectrum compared to HDPE. PPFDtotal under LDPE was 5 and 12% higher than HDPE covers for ‘Santina’ and ‘Sweetheart’ cherry orchards, respectively.
Both covers increased the PPFDdiffuse by 60 and 85%, in ‘Santina’ and ‘Sweetheart’ orchards, respectively.
In ‘Santina’ at 67 and 71 DAFB, AGR under LDPE was significantly higher (p<0.05) than HDPE. In ‘Sweetheart’ at 92 DAFB, AGR under LDPE and HDPE cover was significantly higher (p<0.05) than under uncovered conditions.
In ‘Santina’, LDPE increased the number of fruits >30 mm by 9 and 17% compared to uncovered and HDPE cover, respectively.
In ‘Sweetheart’, LDPE and HDPE cover increased the number of fruit >30 mm by 20% compared to uncovered conditions.
These results suggest that modifying the composition of UV, NIR, and diffuse light by cover materials could be used as a tool to maximize fruit size in protected cherry orchards.
At the same time, maximizing fruit size is a critical aspect of profitable cherry fresh market production.
This research evaluated the use of high-density polyethylene woven (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene plastic (LDPE) photo-selective rain covers to improve fruit size in ‘Santina’ and ‘Sweetheart’ cherry orchards.
Spectral light transmission, total (PPFDtotal) and diffuse (PPFDdiffuse) photosynthetic photon flux density, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation were measured under covered and uncovered conditions.
Absolute fruit growth rate (AGR, g day‑1) and fruit size categories were assessed at different days after full bloom (DAFB) and at harvest, respectively.
LDPE reduced light transmission in the UV-A (350-400 nm) and increased it in the NIR (700-1000 nm) spectrum compared to HDPE. PPFDtotal under LDPE was 5 and 12% higher than HDPE covers for ‘Santina’ and ‘Sweetheart’ cherry orchards, respectively.
Both covers increased the PPFDdiffuse by 60 and 85%, in ‘Santina’ and ‘Sweetheart’ orchards, respectively.
In ‘Santina’ at 67 and 71 DAFB, AGR under LDPE was significantly higher (p<0.05) than HDPE. In ‘Sweetheart’ at 92 DAFB, AGR under LDPE and HDPE cover was significantly higher (p<0.05) than under uncovered conditions.
In ‘Santina’, LDPE increased the number of fruits >30 mm by 9 and 17% compared to uncovered and HDPE cover, respectively.
In ‘Sweetheart’, LDPE and HDPE cover increased the number of fruit >30 mm by 20% compared to uncovered conditions.
These results suggest that modifying the composition of UV, NIR, and diffuse light by cover materials could be used as a tool to maximize fruit size in protected cherry orchards.
Publication
Authors
R.M. Bastías, I. Urra, C. Meza
Keywords
protected fruit growing, UV light, NIR spectra, diffuse light, fruit size, Prunus avium L
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