News about Italy

ISIRED* and GIORED*, two new cherry tree varieties from CREA in Forlì (Italy)

Varieties

18 Nov 2024

Obtained at the Forlì site of the Forlì Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Fruit Growing, they were selected as CREA C1 (Isired) and CREA C2 (Giored) as part of a genetic improvement programme aimed at the lowland environments of the Romagna area.

Cross-species SIT technique: a new frontier for controlling Drosophila suzukii

Crop protection

13 Nov 2024

A recent Italian study analyzed the use of cross-species SIT, which leverages reproductive interference between different species to enhance effectiveness. The goal was to combat Drosophila suzukii, a pest that poses a threat to fleshy fruits such as cherries.

The Chilean cherry sector at the centre of the next episode of Macfrut Academy

Events

22 Oct 2024

Macfrut Academy returns on Thursday 24 October at 5 p.m. with a video lecture dedicated to the Chilean cherry supply chain: an in-depth look at the post-harvest process, with a focus on the technologies that enable this fruit to be exported globally.

The role of yeasts in the life cycle of Drosophila suzukii

Crop protection

07 Oct 2024

Drosophila melanogaster is linked to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast commonly used in bread-making, and D. suzukii is linked to Pichia terricola, Pichia kluyveri and Hanseniaspora uvarum. Previous studies identified H. uvarum on both infested grape and raspberry fruits.

INSTINCT project: artificial intelligence and traps to combat Drosophila suzukii

Crop protection

01 Oct 2024

“A big step forward would be knowing the exact moment when an infestation is about to occur,” says Silvia Schmidt, an entomologist at the Laimburg Research Center. “That way, nets and pesticides could only be used when truly necessary.”

Cherry pomace can be valorised in a sustainable way

Quality

10 Sep 2024

Although sweet cherry pomace waste is obtained after juice production, it still contains significant amounts of dietary fibre and value-added compounds, including polyphenols. For this reason, it can be used as a renewable raw material to generate bioactive compounds.

The challenges of Italy’s sweet cherry season: a complex year amid rains and decreasing consumption

Production

02 Sep 2024

The sweet cherry supply for 2024 remained in line with the average of the last five seasons, which saw an average production of about 100,000 tons per year. However, 2023 stood out as a negative year, with a production of only 93,000 tons, the lowest value in the last five years.

How does fruit quality changes inside the tree?

Quality

23 Aug 2024

A study by Italian and Romanian universities evaluated the impact of cultivar and fruit position within the tree canopy during pre-ripening or full ripening on the quality parameters of organically grown cherries.

Sweet cherry in Apulia region: challenges and opportunities for future cultivation

Production

12 Aug 2024

There has been a drastic drop in production: hectares abandoned or replaced with other crops due to lack of profitability. Added to this are difficulties in protecting crops from new pests and the increasingly acute shortage of labour.

How Calcium and Potassium increase resistance to cracking and accelerate ripening

Crop protection

07 Aug 2024

The experiment was carried out in a commercial orchard of sweet cherry cv. 'Regina' in Lagnasco, Piedmont, grafted on 'Gisela 5', covered by rain and hail nets. Foliar applications were carried out on 15 plants with: Stimulant Plus®, Set® and Abundantia®.