Source: Stefano Lugli
This article, written exclusively for Cherry Times readers by Jesús Alonso, a Spanish researcher and member of the magazine’s scientific committee, examines the physiological and agronomic factors that determine orchard establishment, fruit quality and production stability in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivation systems intended for fresh-market cherry production.
The central thesis is that marketable production does not depend on a single cultural practice, but rather on an integrated sequence that begins in the previous production cycle with floral induction and flower bud formation; continues through the fulfillment of winter chilling requirements, spring heat accumulation, flowering, pollination and fruit set; and culminates in the stages of fruit growth, ripening and harvest.
The article, divided into two parts, integrates several aspects:
In the first part, published last Tuesday, the choice of production area, cultivar and rootstock; dormancy; frost sensitivity; and reproductive dynamics were examined.
This second part addresses cultural technique topics such as irrigation management, crop load, canopy management and mineral nutrition; the phenomenon of rain-induced cracking; protected cultivation systems; and adaptation to climate change.
The approach adopted relates physiological mechanisms to agronomic evidence in order to support context-specific technical decisions, avoiding the transformation of thermal models, critical thresholds or cultural interventions into universal prescriptions.
Sweet cherry fruit growth is commonly described as a double-sigmoid pattern organized into three physiological phases.
Phase I is dominated by cell division and initial mesocarp growth; during Phase II, external growth slows while embryo development and endocarp hardening proceed; and in Phase III, or the fruit-enlargement phase, intense cell expansion resumes, associated with water influx, sugar accumulation, color development, and commercial ripening.
This sequence explains why irrigation, crop load, canopy light environment, and nutrition do not exert the same effect across phases: an intervention that is beneficial in one window may be irrelevant or even counterproductive in another (Wani et al., 2014; Vignati et al., 2024).
During the enlargement phase, fruit vascular dynamics undergo a critical shift.
[...]
Would you like to learn more about this topic? The full article is reserved for subscribers to the Cherry Times newsletter! Subscribe free of charge to receive every new exclusive in-depth article directly in your inbox and stay constantly updated with quality insights and analysis. Do not miss this unique opportunity!
Subscribe free of charge to the Cherry Times newsletter
03 Jul 2024
In an in-depth study conducted by the University of Budapest (Hungary), the effectiveness of trunk injections was evaluated using four different pesticides against Rhagoletis cerasi. Among these, acetamiprid emerged as the most promising candidate.
24 Jul 2025
The cherry season in Spain’s Jerte Valley ends with 7 million kilos certified, free from rain or hail damage. The Lapins variety joins the PDO list for the first time. Local institutions strengthen their support for the region’s agricultural and rural sector.
09 Jul 2026
In Jerte Valley sweet cherry orchards, irrigation, crop load, canopy and nutrition shape fruit quality, yield and cracking risk. Preharvest management supports adaptation to extreme climate events, rainfall, water stress, fruit wetness and evolving production demands.
09 Jul 2026
The extended BBCH scale provides a shared standard for describing fruit crop phenology, improving orchard management, research, cultivar comparison and adaptation strategies for climate variability, while supporting sustainable production and scientific communication.
