Fruit Cracking and Characteristics of Fruit Thickening in ‘Satonishiki’ Cherry

Abstract

In order to clarify causes of fruit cracking of sweet cherries cultivated under rain shelters, characteristics of fruit thickening of a cultivar Satonishiki were investigated in relation to cracking of the fruits in open culture and in potted trees under a pipe-greenhouse as a rain shelter.
1. In open culture, rainfall brought about the cracking on a large scale. But, the cracking occurred only slightly on days without rain and was thought to be closely related to abundant soil moisture, high turgor pressure of fruit and humid air.
2. Cracking on a small scale was observed on potted trees under the rain shelter. Fruit diameter of the potted trees was monitored continuously by using a non-contact sensitive instrument (“Gap Sensor”). The data showed that rapid fruit thickening continued for several days at the III stage of fruit development under abundant soil moisture. During this period, humid air and heavy irrigation may cause cracking on some fruits even under the rain shelter.