The use of semi-dwarfing rootstocks has increased the orchard productivity, leading to the creation of high and super-high density cherry orchard. In addition to planting density, light interception is affected by cultivar, tree shape and height, row orientation, leaf area index, and seasonal vegetative growth.
Thus, choosing an appropriate training system could result in increased light interception, leading to increased production and fruit quality. Indeed, we should remember that excessive canopy shading results in reduced fruiting, decreased fruit weight, poor color development, and low total soluble solids content.
Light interception is optimized by choosing breeding systems suited to the growing environment. Bibaum systems, for example, are well adapted to areas with abundant light, high temperatures, and extended growing seasons. 2D planar farming systems reduce canopy exposure to light during the most intense hours (solar noon), thus protecting the developing fruit from overexposure to light.
The research we are presenting you today was carried out at the University of Tasmania.
In this study, the performance of different breeding forms of 'Kordia' grafted on 'Krymsk 5' (semi-dwarfing rootstock) was evaluated. The training systems evaluated were the 2D planar training systems of upright fruiting offshoot (UFO), super spindle axe (SSA), tall spindle axe (TSA), Bibaum (BB), and steep leader (SL) over two seasons.
In the two seasons, light interception was highest in UFO and SL (69% of incident light) and lowest in BB (66%). SSA had the highest yield (15.1 t ha), followed by SL (14.5 t ha) and UFO (12.7 t ha).
In terms of fruit quality, this study confirms that at the same crop load conditions, there is a strong correlation between light interception and dry matter and soluble solids content. In addition, when lateral-bearing cultivars (such as Kordia) are grown in planar form, adequate spacing between uprights is necessary to achieve optimal light interception and fruit quality.
Fonte: CH Stone, DC Close, SA Bound, I Hunt (2022). Training systems for sweet cherry: Light relations, fruit yield and quality. Agronomy, 2022.
Melissa Venturi
University of Bologna (IT)
06 Nov 2024
Wildflower areas are a valid method to mitigate the effects of edge conditions on pest control services, even if the impact on pollination is limited. They can also reduce the edge effect within cerasites.
26 Aug 2024
‘It was a very good year. We had a high quality harvest and this was recognised by the market,' commented Aníbal Caminiti, director of CAPCI. ‘At the national level, we can say that we are about to reach 6,000 tonnes of exported cherries.
25 Dec 2025
La Junta de Extremadura ha distribuito 904.540 euro nel secondo pagamento dell’aiuto straordinario 2024 per i cerasicoltori colpiti dal maltempo. La misura, parte del Decreto Legge 3/2025, prevede un’ultima tranche da un milione di euro in arrivo nei prossimi giorni.
24 Dec 2025
Jessica Rodríguez analyses the problems of rot in Chilean cherries exported to China in 2024/25, highlighting causes, impacts and solutions adopted. The report highlights critical issues in post-harvest management, sanitisation and product storage.
