RED RASPBERRIES PRODUCTION UNDER HIGH TUNNEL, UMBRELLA-LIKE STRUCTURE AND OPEN FIELD UNDER NORTHERN CANADIAN CLIMATE

An experiment was conducted from 2011 to 2012 on Ile d’Orléans, Quebec, Canada to determine the effects of three growing environments (high tunnel, umbrella-like structure and open field) and reflective mulch (presence or absence) on fruit yield and berry size of floricane-fruiting red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) ‘Jeanne d’Orléans’ and of primocane-fruiting red raspberry ‘Polka’. For floricane-fruiting red raspberry ‘Jeanne d’Orléans’, our results demonstrate that the growing environments significantly influenced fruit yield. High tunnel increased yield by 30.6% compared to umbrella-like structure, and 2.2 times the yield measured in open field. Reflective mulch had a positive effect on ‘Jeanne d’Orléans’ productivity and increased yield by 22.2%, 24.3% and 3.2%, respectively, under high tunnel, umbrella-like structure or open field. For primocane-fruiting red raspberry ‘Polka’, Both factors, growing environments and reflective mulches, significantly influenced fruit yield. High tunnel increased yield by 56.6% compared to umbrella-like structure, and 2.3 times compared to the yield measured in open field. Reflective mulch significantly increased yield by 13.6%, 14.8% and 29.5%, respectively, under high tunnel, umbrella-like structure and open field.