State of the art on pollination in cherry trees

07 Nov 2024
134

There are many crops that depend on pollinators for good production, and these include the sweet cherry and sour cherry. 

In response to the continuous decline of pollinators and the increasing demand for agricultural products, it is imperative to develop management strategies aimed at protecting pollinators. Considering that various research studies already exist on the subject, some researchers decided to take stock of the situation on this topic. 

They conducted a systematic review of the existing literature to investigate the impact of environmental factors, insect communities and on-farm management practices on cherry pollination.

In general, many more studies concerning the sweet cherry were found, while geographically, most of the research was mainly conducted in North America and Europe.

The results of the studies show that the fruit set rate is definitely improved by the effect of pollination, regardless of the fact that cherry cultivars can be either self-compatible or self-incompatible. 

It must be remembered, however, that the effectiveness of pollination is significantly influenced by temperature, as it affects pollen germination, pollen tube development and ovule longevity. In terms of biodiversity, cherry blossoms are visited by a wide range of insects, with 185 documented species. 

Of these, 142 belong to the order Hymenoptera and 36 to the order Diptera. Honey bees are considered the main visitors of the flowers, with an average relative abundance of 57% of the total. The pollination performance of the different entomological groups is still unclear, as only one study has compared the effectiveness of a single visit by bees on fruit formation. 

But there are not only honey bees in orchards. Studies have assessed that apoids belonging to the genus Osmia and Andrena are more efficient pollinators than honeybees and bumblebees. In summary, it has been determined that the promotion of wild pollinators, managed pollinators, or both can be effective in solving pollination deficiencies, depending on the needs of the cultivars and the landscape context.

The preservation of semi-natural habitats surrounding orchards can further enhance flower visitation by wild bees. However, there are still many points of clarification to be made: for example, it is not yet understood whether and how cultivation under polyethylene tunnels and the application of pesticides affects the presence of beneficial insects. 

Other practices, such as increasing on-farm flower resources, have shown controversial results so far. To ensure a sufficient supply of high quality compatible pollen and to encourage the proliferation of wild pollinators, on-farm management strategies can be customised according to the cultivated varieties. 

Hence, guidelines are needed to provide effective and innovative solutions for farmers to improve pollination services. To do this, many skills are needed, from horticulture to agronomy, from applied entomology to landscape ecology. 

But first, it is necessary to understand in detail the needs of individual insect groups and how to manage them more appropriately, for a sustainable and conscious cherry production.

Sourcee: Julia Osterman, Zeus Mateos-Fierro, Catarina Siopa, Helena Castro, Sílvia Castro, Maxime Eeraerts, The impact of pollination requirements, pollinators, landscape and management practices on pollination in sweet and sour cherry: A systematic review, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2024.109163.

Photos: SL Fruit Service

Melissa Venturi
University of Bologna (IT)


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Early detection of graft incompatibility in sweet cherry

Rootstocks

14 Aug 2024

A recent study conducted by Iranian researchers evaluated the predictions of graft compatibility or incompatibility in sweet cherry trees by internode association and callus fusion techniques. The aim was to identify reliable markers for incompatibility early detection.

Raúl Orellana (Quelen Fruit) reveals strategies for the upcoming Chilean season

Markets

18 Mar 2024

Raúl Orellana, Technical Manager for Quality, talks about his experience in China and how this prepares the company for the coming season, after part of his team experienced first-hand the journey that the cherries take to China.

In evidenza

The importance of rootstock and fertilization in Summit cherries quality

Tech management

21 Nov 2024

A Chinese study analyzed the effects of five different rootstocks on Summit sweet cherry cultivar during the fruit veraison phase with or without nitrogen-free nutrient fertilizers. The five rootstocks tested were: Mahaleb, Gisela 5, and three hybrid selections H11, H17, and H22.

Colour and ripeness of cherries: decisive factors for export quality

Quality

21 Nov 2024

Given its direct influence on other indices such as flavor and firmness, this time we will analyze color, from the perspective of homogenization in the final product, the high percentage of light-colored fruit, and the high percentage of dark-colored fruit.

Tag Popolari