Chilean project aims to predict flowering date to curb climate change

06 Mar 2024
1450

The research project entitled 'Improving two-phase phenology models to forecast bloom in sweet cherry trees under future climate scenarios' was awarded to Professor Eduardo Fernández from the School of Agronomy at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. Fernández, a professor at the same institution, will be in charge of the study that aims to understand how climate change has affected the flowering date of deciduous trees over the decades.

The research, aimed at finding a way to identify the flowering date of cherry trees in the face of the potential impacts of climate change, is a key objective for academics at the PUCV School of Agronomy. Fernández emphasised the importance of predicting this event and anticipating future temperature changes.

The lecturer explained that deciduous fruit trees, such as the cherry tree, spend the winter period without leaves, and knowledge of the flowering date is crucial for the cherry industry. This information allows fruit growers to plan activities such as foliage application, pollination, and dates for hiring personnel for harvesting.

Fernández highlighted how climate change has affected the flowering date of deciduous trees over the decades, motivating the need to understand and predict these changes in order to adapt agricultural practices. He emphasised that the choice of the cherry tree for the study was not accidental, considering that it is one of the most cultivated species in the country in terms of temperate climate fruit trees.

Read the full article: Redagrícola


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

How intensive farming threatens pollinators in cherry orchards of Puglia and Veneto

Tech management

13 Jun 2025

A study in Puglia and Veneto shows how intensive farming and conventional orchard practices harm wild pollinators, reducing cherry yield and quality. Organic management proves to be a promising alternative in simplified agricultural landscapes today.

India: USD 1.175 billion opportunity for Chilean fruit

Markets

18 Oct 2024

According to the Market Intelligence Department of ProChile, based on data from January to December 2023, Chilean fresh fruit shipments to India totaled 163 million dollars, representing about 3% of total global exports, equivalent to 5.791 billion dollars.

In evidenza

Impacts of spur thinning on Lapins cherry orchards: growth and fruit quality

Production

10 Oct 2025

A field study in Chile on Lapins cherry trees reveals that spur thinning does not always improve fruit quality but can significantly affect vegetative growth. In-depth analysis on yield management, leaf area ratio, and seasonal climatic conditions in modern orchards.

From Chile to the world: 120 million crates of high-quality cherries are targeted

Markets

10 Oct 2025

The Chilean cherry industry aims for 120 million cartons of high-quality cherries. Focus on reputation, alternative markets beyond China, and growth in Europe and the United States. Claudia Soler outlines the strategy to enhance the consumer experience and strengthen global expor

Tag Popolari