"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.
18 Jun 2024
For the first time in Greece, the new cherry tree shaping system in Pergola is presented. The structure involves moving the production area to a height of approximately 1.80 m, with a suitable support structure similar to that used for kiwis.
10 Mar 2026
A study from Argentina shows that discarded sweet cherries can be transformed into freeze-dried cherry powder rich in phenolic compounds and incorporated into pectin-based edible films, creating active materials for food packaging with natural antioxidant properties.
28 Jul 2026
Effective phytosanitary management of cherry wood requires prevention, accurate diagnosis and integrated strategies. Sanitary pruning, inoculum reduction, targeted treatments, biostimulation and seasonal monitoring help contain bacterial diseases and wood-decay fungi.
28 Jul 2026
In Kent, England, Agrícola San Clemente and FGA Farming are building an innovative cherry production model that combines technology, Chilean varieties, protective tunnels and seasonal workers from Chile to supply premium fruit directly to the British retail market.
