The sustainability of reducing light in apple orchards under well-watered (ww) and water stress (ws) conditions was evaluated for water relations, plant gas exchanges, fruit growth, yield determinants, and fruit quality over three years. A black (B) 28% shading net was compared with two different 50% shading nets: red (R) and white (W). Each net was combined with two irrigation regimes (ww and ws) based on plant water status. Under ww and ws conditions, increasing shade from 28% to 50% was not detrimental for plant gas exchanges, yield, or quality over three years. Higher shade improved plant water status regardless of irrigation regime. Higher shading could be considered sustainable in apple orchards over several seasons. Fruit quality was more sensitive to plant water status than to light reduction. ws increased fruit soluble solid content and relative dry matter, regardless of shading, and this was positively reflected in consumer’s preference. When water availability is limited, increasing shading to 50% can help save water and maintain high-quality yields associated with water stress. Given the likely reductions of water availability in agriculture, growers and consultants may consider shading apple orchards as a sustainable and safe horticultural technique to save water.

Climate change is leading to higher plant water requirements and rootstock can play a role in tree adaptation, since the more vigorous ones are also likely to be more stress resistant. Pear trees of the cv. Abbé Fetél grafted on BA29 (more vigorous) and SYDO (more dwarfing) quince were irrigated according to three different treatments: 110 C, 80 DI and 60 DI, corresponding to 110%, 80% and 60% of the crop evapotranspiration rate (ETc), respectively. Shoot and fruit growth, water potentials, leaf gas exchanges and dry matter content were monitored during the season. Fruit quality was evaluated at harvest and after 6 months of storage at 1 °C. Results show how for both rootstocks, 60 DI significantly decreased their stem (Ψ_stem) and leaf (Ψ_leaf) water potentials as well as leaf gas exchanges. In SYDO, final fruit size was affected by irrigation, with lower values on 60 DI, but in BA29, no differences were found between treatments. After storage, BA29 60 DI fruit showed a higher soluble solid content, while in SYDO fruit, firmness was more affected by irrigation level. In conclusion, despite a slight decrease in fruit size, reduced irrigation led to fruit with higher quality features that were also maintained after a long period of storage.

Although superficial scald (SS) is well characterized on apples, there are only a few insights concerning the influence that agronomic and management variability may have on the occurrence of this physiological disorder on pears. In this study, we aimed to improve our understanding of the effect of different preharvest factors on SS development using a multivariate statistical approach. Pears (Pyrus communis L.) cv Abate Fetel were picked during two consecutive seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) from twenty-three commercial orchards from three growing areas (Modena, Ferrara, and Ravenna provinces) in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Bioclimatic indices such as weather and soil, agronomic management such fertilization and irrigation, orchard features such as rootstock and training systems, and SS incidence were carried out at harvest and periodically postharvest in all producers. Two different storage scenarios (regular atmosphere and use of 1-MCP) were also evaluated. Our data in both seasons showed high heterogeneity between farms for SS symptoms after cold storage either in the regular atmosphere or with 1-MCP treatment. Nevertheless, in 2018, all the producers showed SS at the end of the storage season, but in 2019 some of them did not exhibit SS for up to 5 months. In fact, some preharvest factors changed considerably between the two seasons such as yield and weather conditions. Indeed, some factors seem to affect SS in both growing seasons. Some can increase its occurrences such as physiological and agronomical factors: high yields, late date of blooming, heavy downpours, improper irrigation management (low watering frequency and high volumes), nitrogen (included that deriving from organic matter), soil texture (presence of clay), orchard age, and canopy volume in relation to training system and rootstock. Others can decrease SS such as climatic and management factors: late harvest dates, rain, gibberellins, calcium, manure, absence of antihail nets or use of photoselective nets, and site (probably related to better soils toward the Adriatic coast). Initial preharvest variability is an important factor that modulates physiological plant stress and, subsequently, the SS after cold storage in Abate Fetel pears. Multivariate techniques could represent useful tools to identify reliable multiyear preharvest variables for SS control in pear fruit different batches.

In highly solar irradiated areas, apple production can face challenges due to high evaporative water demands. Shading can be used to lower irrigation requirements and make apple growing more sustainable. In this trial, a white exclusion net (40% shading) integrated with rain protection was compared with a regular anti-hail black net (20% shading), on Rosy Glow apple. Crop physiology, yield and quality parameters were monitored during two consecutive years, under conditions of full and restricted irrigation. Since Et₀ under the two cover systems was different, their respective 100% irrigation replacement was different; both covers also received a restricted irrigation treatment (70% replacement of Et₀). Tree physiology (midday stem water potential, leaf gas exchanges, seasonal fruit growth) was not affected, neither by less light nor by less water. Moreover, marketable yield, fruit color and soluble solid content were improved under the more shaded environment, even when the irrigation volume was limited. These results are encouraging, as an overall 50% of water was saved (ca. 190 mm tree⁻¹ per year), compared to the control irrigation treatment, under a classic anti-hail system (ca. 370 mm tree⁻¹ per year).

Calcium (Ca) is one of the most important nutrients involved in fruit quality and storability; therefore, its application in fruit trees is often used in pre- and post-harvest. The aims of this study were to manipulate soil Ca, K, and N availability, photosynthetic active radiation, and fruit transpiration rate to understand their implication on fruit Ca accumulation on green-flesh kiwifruit grown in calcareous soil. Our results show that Ca partitioning into the fruit is not affected by the applications of Ca, K, and N, as well as the increase of photosynthetic active radiation. However, the presence of reflective films reduced fruit firmness and increased soluble solid content at harvest and during cold storage, thus enhancing fruit quality. Fruit calcium accumulation is decreased by the reduction of fruit transpiration rate; however, it has the possibility to recover, even close to fruit harvest, when the fruit transpiration is restored. The presence of bags reduced fruit weight from 84 to 63 g even though bags were removed. Our data provide evidence of the inefficiency of calcium fertilization in kiwifruit in calcareous soils and demonstrate the extension of calcium transportation into the fruit, which seems to occur during the entire growing season.

Photoselective nets were used to examine apple shoot physiology during dormancy and budbreak. Two trials were conducted: one in the field and one in controlled conditions. In the first, three colored nets (red, blue, and white, shading 20%) covered sections of single trees, leaving an empty portion as control, from December to April. The white net increased canopy air temperature compared with the blue one. Differences were found in carbohydrate seasonal patterns; however, it appeared that soil temperature had higher impacts on sugar movement in the trees. No differences were found in bud phenology. In the second trial, cuttings were placed in boxes constructed with the same-colored nets and monitored from the end of February to April. Results showed differences in phenology and carbohydrate translocation. The white box hastened bloom and its cuttings had higher amounts of carbohydrates at the end of the trial. On the contrary, the blue box delayed bloom while resources were still being consumed and its cuttings had the lowest amounts of reserves at the end of the trial. These results add new insights on apple physiology under different light spectra and commercial applications should not be excluded for improving crop management.