Experimentation started at the beginning of the 1990s with anti-rain nets. "Nowadays we are developing this concept."
"Plastic films now have advanced multiple functions thanks to the materials used: they can let specific wavelengths through or be heat protective. We are also talking about developing a material that can control ripening and safeguard fruit against biotic agents."
"The objective is to create a multi-purpose cover. Once, there were pros and cons in using covers - they may have safeguarded the plants against rain but they risked creating too much shade. Nowadays instead they are becoming increasingly useful as they can hasten or delay harvesting, improve organolpetic qualities and prevent diseases from developing."
"Current orchards are high-density so, under covers, plants are cultivated in a way that favours mechanisation, so operations can be easier. In addition, the more covers become popular, the more work there is for the related sectors, such as that working on new systems to open and close the structures."
"We went from 50 hectares of covered orchards to the current 250. The automatic movement of covers helped a lot, but I hope the numerous conventions, meetings and reports also played their part."
Guglielmo Costa and Stefano Lugli from the University of Bologna in a covered cherry orchard.
As regards the cost of using covers, the professor explains that, in countries where cherry cultivation is semi-intensive, for example Turkey, Spain and the Mediterranean, yields per hectare are not enough to justify using films. "It is in countries like Italy, France or Germany that tend to use them to safeguard their high-quality production. It is quite a big investment, but the system can last up to 15-20 years."
"Four years have passed since the last convention, and it will therefore be an important occasion to share new knowledge. We will talk about genetic improvement, productive chain, pre- and post-harvest techniques, disease protection and covers."
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Contacts:
Dott. Stefano Lugli
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie
Area scientifica Colture Arboree
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
Viale Giuseppe Fanin, 46
40127 Bologna (Italy)
Tel.: +39 051 2096413
Fax: +39 051 2096401
Cell.: +39 335 1798877
Skype: stefanolugli.unibo
Web: www.ciliegio.unibo.it
FreshPlaza is a media partner for the event.
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