For the first time in Greece, the new and imaginative pergola cherry tree training system is being presented. This system promises high yields, uniform and large-sized fruits, easy harvesting in favorable conditions, as well as the long-term maintenance of optimal tree vigor and efficiency.
A new linear cherry training system is being tested in several countries worldwide, with the participation of various agricultural enterprises, especially in cherry-producing countries of the southern hemisphere (Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia), but also in a limited number of experimental plots in northern hemisphere countries (e.g., Netherlands, Hungary, etc.).
It is called Pergola (the word pergola is also used in Greek and means an outdoor structure for protection from the sun and wind) but in the main testing country, Chile, it is called Parron.
Its structure involves transferring the productive surface of the cherry tree to a height of about 1.80 m, using an appropriate support structure similar to that used for kiwi cultivation. In Chile, it has replaced (using the same support structures) many kiwi fields destroyed by the severe bacterial canker epidemic (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae - PSA).
The system supports the following innovative aspects compared to what is known so far: full utilization of the field surface (1000 m² per hectare), as the entire productive surface of the trees is above ground, as well as vigor and quality production throughout the life of the trees (referred to as "forever young"), with frequent renewal of the fruit-bearing branches.
For further details, download the full report here
07 Jan 2026
A study from Miguel Hernández University in Alicante investigates the effect of melatonin applied before and after harvest on 'Sunburst' cherries. Results show a 29% rise in anthocyanins and a 5x increase in endogenous melatonin after 21 days at 2 °C in cold storage.
04 Sep 2024
The objective of a Turkish research was to compare the performance of the cultivar ‘0900 Ziraat’ on two different rootstocks in terms of phenological characteristics, fruit quality, yield, harvest and pruning times, modelled with the SSA training system.
10 Mar 2026
A field trial in a cherry orchard in Izmir, in Turkey’s Aegean region, shows that bumblebee pollination with Bombus terrestris improves cherry size and weight. Results highlight larger fruit, fewer cherries per kilogram and higher profitability for export-oriented growers.
10 Mar 2026
Uno studio condotto in Argentina mostra come le ciliegie dolci scartate possano essere trasformate in polvere liofilizzata ricca di composti fenolici e utilizzate in film edibili a base di pectina, creando materiali attivi per il packaging alimentare con proprietà antiossidanti.
