The seminar “Phytosanitary Challenges in Cherry Trees: Problems and Solutions,” organized by the Dissemination Project and Transfer of the South Fruit Growing Center, was recently held at the Auditorium of the Colchagua Campus of the Universidad de O'Higgins, located in San Fernando (O'Higgins Region).
The day began with greetings from Claudia Jorquera, coordinator of the South Fruit Growing Center program, followed by the first presentation by Dr. Nicola Fiore, an academic and researcher from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Chile (UCHILE), who illustrated the implications of various viruses, the damage they can cause to a cherry tree, and the importance of prevention as the main form of management.
The event continued with a presentation by Dr. Alan Zamorano, assistant professor in the Department of Plant Health of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UCHILE, who spoke about the bacteria present in cherry trees and how genomic studies can improve their detection.
Subsequently, the second block began with the presentation by Dr. Carlos Castañeda, academic, researcher, and director of the Nematology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UCHILE.
The last presentation followed, given by Dr. Ernesto San Blas, an academic at the Institute of Agro-Food, Animal and Environmental Sciences (ICA3) of the Universidad de O'Higgins (UOH). This block was dedicated to nematodes, presenting basic information on the implications of the presence of parasitic nematodes in plants and entomopathogens.
According to Dr. Castañeda, the seminar was an excellent opportunity to discuss the challenges that parasitic nematodes pose in cherry orchards. He also emphasized that the interaction with the participants was enriching, adding: “I am convinced that this type of event is essential for disseminating the importance of phytosanitary issues that go unnoticed, integrating their relevance with the implementation of sustainable and effective agricultural practices.”
The following presentations were made (click on the title to download the presentation in Spanish):
Source: Diario Frutícola
Image: SL Fruit Service
04 Jun 2026
Chile’s cherry sector must reduce its dependence on China and shift 30% of exports toward new markets. Agronomy, varieties, quality, packaging and commercial strategy are becoming decisive to protect value, competitiveness and the long-term future of the industry.
05 May 2025
The 2025 Apulian cherry season kicks off in May with reduced yields but excellent fruit quality. Tricarico’s Cherries focuses on varietal innovation and short supply chains to meet climate change challenges and strengthen a key sector for Italian agriculture.
17 Jun 2026
In Murcia, a field study on ‘Sweetheart’ sweet cherry evaluates kaolinite and calcite against heat stress, drought and solar radiation. Foliar mineral sprays improve leaf reflectance, temperature response and nutritional balance in trees exposed to intense summer heat.
17 Jun 2026
Oregon State University’s Decoy technology aims to reduce insecticide use against spotted-wing drosophila, protecting cherries, blueberries and soft fruit with attract-and-kill systems, slow-release traps and integrated biological control for fruit growers on U.S. farms.
