A new research trial is helping Tasmania's $66 million cherry industry adapt to climate change and the likelihood of hotter, drier summers and more frequent extreme rainfall events, while supporting premium fruit production.
Dr Leticia Reis, Tree Fruit Physiologist at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) , is conducting commercial field trials as part of the three-year national project Optimising protected cherry production (CY24004) led by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The trial is examining how rain covers influence the microclimate of cherry orchards and the consequences for tree growth and fruit quality at the branch level.
Findings will support new management strategies for using rain protection covers, helping growers optimise fruit quality and market returns.
"Rain covers are commonly used in sweet cherry orchards across Tasmania and are an effective and practical tool to reduce risks such as fruit cracking. Cracking can happen during extreme rainfall at harvest time and result in significant economic losses for growers," Dr Reis said.
"While rain covers provide effective protection for fruit, they alter the orchard microclimate including reducing sunlight, warmer temperatures, and moisture in the air. They also change the quality of light reaching the trees, much like wearing tinted sunglasses.
"Trees respond to these changes in the microclimate which directly impacts fruit quality."
To better understand these effects, Dr Reis has established an experimental site at a commercial cherry orchard in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. The site uses a range of sensors to monitor light, microclimate and leaf physiology. An additional assessment of fruit quality will happen at commercial harvest.
"We've collaborated with TIA's Ag Tech Innovation Studio to develop custom sensors and continuous real-time monitoring systems for this trial," Dr Reis said.
TIA's Ag Tech Innovation Studio designs sensing and data technologies to support agricultural research and industry innovation.
Brent McClintock from AAAW Group's Calthorpe Orchards is hosting the trial in his orchard where rain covers have been used for the past five years.
"We've seen significant investment in rain covers across a number of Tasmanian orchards in recent years. With a number of operations in the industry now using them, I don't see a future without growing under rain covers"
"The next step is to understand how to use rain covers as effectively as possible. It's important that we invest time and money into research to test what we're seeing in the orchard and back it up with evidence to give growers confidence in how rain covers impact fruit quality and productivity.
"In particular I would like to see some answers around how much light we losing, whether that's a big deal, and how much of a limitation it puts on us. We can see the benefits of using rain covers but also need to address the challenges."
The research team is inviting Tasmanian cherry growers to participate in grower-led orchard trials and surveys to explore how rain covers influence cherry quality, yield and the production environment. These activities will support the development of case studies and reference materials to support the industry.
This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Cherry research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
An overview of the project, including both Tasmanian and Mainland based case studies, will be posted to the Cherry Growers Australia website .
