News about Andrea Giovannini

New Picota cherries from Spain: less pit, more quality and stem-free harvest

Breeding

17 Sep 2025

In Spain’s Jerte Valley, new Picota cherry cultivars enhance fruit quality, reduce pit size, and support stem-free harvesting. A recent study identifies four promising genotypes with commercial size, shelf-life resistance, and post-harvest performance in MAP.

Pesticide exposure for wild bees: Oregon study reveals hidden risks

Tech management

16 Sep 2025

A study from Oregon reveals wild bees are exposed to pesticides not from treated crops but from spontaneous plants like dandelions. A new approach to vegetation management in orchards is needed to effectively protect all pollinators and ensure ecosystem resilience.

Drosophila suzukii in France: winter fruits reveal new control strategies

Crop protection

12 Sep 2025

A study in France explores the effects of ornamental winter fruits on Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest damaging soft fruit crops. Researchers tested thermal regimes to evaluate survival, reproduction, and potential strategies for biological control and prevention.

How cherry tree age and variety affect soil quality in China’s Loess Plateau

Tech management

11 Sep 2025

A study on China’s Loess Plateau examines how orchard age and sweet cherry variety shape soil quality. Findings reveal declining organic matter and aggregate stability with time, highlighting the importance of sustainable management to preserve fertility and productivity.

Cherry storage: tea polyphenols and nisin extend freshness up to 21 days

Post-harvest​

10 Sep 2025

A recent Chinese study shows that combining tea polyphenols and nisin preserves the quality of “Brooks” and “Summit” cherries for up to 21 days. The treatment delays senescence and spoilage, offering a natural, effective and eco-friendly postharvest solution.

New methods in Poland to speed up sour cherry seed germination

Breeding

09 Sep 2025

A study in Skierniewice, Poland, tested innovative methods to enhance sour cherry seed germination. Seed coat removal combined with cold stratification produced stronger seedlings faster, cutting time and costs while boosting breeding efficiency and genetic progress.

How cherry trees react to climate: cultivar trial in northeastern Romania

Tech management

02 Sep 2025

A two-year study in Iași, Romania, evaluated the phenological, physiological, and productive responses of three cherry cultivars to climate stress. Results provide key insights for varietal selection and orchard management under water scarcity and global climate change.

Sweet cherries in subtropical China: study on red and yellow low-chill cultivars

Quality

29 Aug 2025

A study on low-chill sweet cherry cultivars grown in southeastern China analyzes fruit quality, color and gene expression. Promising results show potential to enhance cherry traits in subtropical climates and improve future breeding strategies.

Parasitoid interactions on Drosophila suzukii: impact on biological control in EU and USA

Crop protection

27 Aug 2025

A study carried out in Europe and the USA evaluates the efficiency of the parasitoid Ganaspis kimorum against Drosophila suzukii, highlighting its complex interactions with pupal parasitoids Pachycrepoideus vindemiae and Trichopria drosophilae in biological control programs.

Cherries for export: best cultivars and cold chain strategies from Italy

Post-harvest​

26 Aug 2025

A two-year Italian study evaluated five cherry cultivars to assess their quality for long-distance export. Black Pearl and Chelan emerged as the most suitable, especially when stored in modified atmosphere bags and kept under optimal cold chain conditions.