"Cracking" is a problem for sweet cherry production wherever the high-value crop is grown. However, despite considerable research, the reason that this phenomenon occurs has not been clear. In a new study, researchers reveal their discovery of what makes sweet cherries crack.
HANNOVER, GERMANY — "Cracking" is a problem for sweet cherry production wherever the high-value crop is grown. However, despite considerable research, the reason that this phenomenon occurs has not been clear.
In a new study, Andreas Winkler, Max Ossenbrink, and Moritz Knoche reveal their discovery of what makes sweet cherries crack.
Knoche, lead author of the study published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, said the scientists from the Institute for Horticultural Production Systems at Leibniz University set out to investigate consequences of the leakage of cell contents into the fruit's apoplast.
"We observed a surprising and dramatic increase in cracking when sweet cherry fruit are brought into direct contact with the expressed juice of sweet cherries," Knoche said.
The scientists compared water uptake and fruit cracking in 'Sam' sweet cherries following incubation in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, real sweet cherry juice extracted from the same batch of fruit using a spaghetti press, or in artificial juice comprising the five most abundant osmolytes of sweet cherries.
Fruit incubated in deionized water served as the control.
"Our results demonstrate that sweet cherry juice causes rapid fruit cracking for low amounts of water uptake. The effect of the juice on cracking can be reproduced using an artificial juice composed of the five most abundant osmolytes in real juice, which include malic acid.
It can also be reproduced using malic acid on its own," the authors explained. "We clearly identified malic acid as the major crack-promoting component in sweet cherry juice."
The researchers added that malic acid may be an "important link" in a reaction chain that begins with the bursting of individual epidermal cells and ends with the formation of macroscopic skin cracks. They noted that the same conditions may also occur in sweet cherry fruit in orchards.
Source: Manufactoring
Image source: Stefano Lugli
American Society For Horticultural Science
19 Jan 2024
According to the US Department of Agriculture, Michigan had 23,000 acres of sour cherries in 2022. The number of growers decreased from 540 in 2006 to 253 in 2022. The number of processors also decreased from 24 in 2011 to 14 in 2023.
12 Feb 2026
Peru is testing commercial cherry production in highland regions such as Arequipa, Junín and Cajamarca, targeting the Chinese market and leveraging the Chancay mega port. First export volumes may arrive in 2026, but the crop remains highly technical and climate-sensitive.
30 Sep 2026
A study from Hannover sheds new light on sweet cherry cracking: malic acid in cherry juice can trigger rapid skin splitting even with limited water uptake, linking the bursting of epidermal cells to the development of visible cracks across the fruit skin in orchards.
30 Sep 2026
A new UK project will use bioacoustic sensors, AI and field trials to measure pollinator activity, improve fruit set, yield and quality, and support more resilient production of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries across commercial farms.
