Use of Innovative Plastic Films to Cover Cherry Orchard for Fruit Cracking Control and Fruit Quality Enhancement

Today, most of the cherry orchards in North Italy are protected with plastic nets. The Department of Agricultural Science have begun to address the study on net-roofing systems in the early 90s, with the anti-rain net to avoid fruit cracking. Nowadays this research has become extremely relevant thanks to plastic films of new generation capable of advanced functions (able to pass specific wavelengths, or heat protective) that are not only anti-fruit cracking, but able also to control the maturation, to improve the fruit quality and also to be used to control the development of insects and plant diseases to some extent. In addition, the new pedestrian orchard realized with high density planting, do not represent a limit to mechanization in the protected orchards. The cover, which was a limit some time ago, has turned into an opportunity for development, and testing of new models of production. Moreover, other positive aspects have to be considered such as new simplified systems for opening and closing the nets that do represent another important reduction of the management cost. Although the initial expense of realization of the plastic roof is important, the advantages that this provides are indisputable and also their length can safely cover a span of time (in ordinary circumstances) of well 15-20 years. Moreover, it is expected that the innovations on roofing materials and techniques of management of the same, in short, from making additional benefits, allowing a reduction in costs, and an increase in both the quantity and the quality of the cherry production. Here are reported the results obtained on several cherry cultivar (Grace Star, Brooks, Early Bigi) covered with light diffusive, photoselective, and heat protective plastic films. The film, especially the light diffusive one induced an higher fruit size, earlier ripening and enhance fruit skin color when combined with a reflective mulch.