Dalle coperture antipioggia alle coperture multifunzionali

This conference contribution to the International Cherry Symposium (ICS) May 2022 explains the physiological basis for the use of the different types of covers in cherry. These range from crop covers as simple rain shelters to prevent cherry cracking, via a way of forcing cherries, black-grey-black netting against hail in the summer and as shading to help fulfil the chilling requirement in the winter, complete dense net as cover to against Drosophila suzukii and other insects and vectors. With investments of 75 – 95 k€/ha, these crop covers help to produce premium large, dark red and glossy cherries with different degrees of fruit firmness, if carefully managed. Risks include climate extremes such as storms, frost, and pathogen infections, while fascinating research into crop covers for cherry is underway in terms of covers with a moderate protection against frost and others, which may produce electricity.