"The super millionaire fruits of the Alma Mater": this is how Corriere della Sera headlined years ago when announcing the results obtained by researchers from the Department of Agri-food Sciences and Technologies of the University of Bologna on the cherry tree genetic improvement project: the seven Sweet® sisters, the new varieties named after the children or loved ones of their inventors.
A team led by Stefano Lugli who, starting from old indigenous varieties, the famous Duroni di Vignola, bearers of valuable traits such as sweetness, texture and aroma, has been able to combine these virtues with others, such as beauty, size and productivity, taking them from varieties of American origin.
Below, the report by Bettina Riedel, variety manager of UNIBO, presented at the seminar on cherry variety innovation at Macfrut 2023. Precisely at Macfrut, ten years ago, the Sweet® varieties made their debut winning, among others, the Oscar prize for innovation.
26 Feb 2025
The risk of late-season rainfall has led to significant industry investment in rain covers for sweet cherry production in Tasmania, Australia. A recent study identifies the effects.
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Cherries stay fresher after harvest thanks to MAP technology and refrigeration. A study from Hunan University (China) highlights benefits for fruit quality, extended shelf life, reduced losses, and precise control of humidity, temperature, and microbial growth during storage.
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In Spain’s Ebro Valley, early cherry harvest will start on April 15. Covered crops show resilience despite unstable weather, while uncertainty remains for mid and late varieties due to rain and wind during flowering.
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The new Cheery Glow cherry developed in Chile combines early harvest, high quality and low chill requirements. Earlier than Santina and with strong postharvest performance, it opens new commercial opportunities and supports market diversification worldwide.
