The effect of rain protective covering on sweet cherry fruit quality

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars with large and firm fruit are susceptible to rain induced fruit cracking during fruit ripening in wet summers. Cracked fruit are susceptible to the entry of fungal pathogens. To obtain qualitative sweet cherry yield for fresh market, polyethylene rain cover was used in the trial for the first time in Latvia. Four cultivars of sweet cherries on Prunus mahaleb L. were grown under VOEN type plastic cover. Trees were covered at the beginning of June (at time of green fruit) and throughout the harvest for three years (2010-2012) at the orchard of Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing. Fruit cracking and rots depending on cultivar and season was reduced significantly by using rain cover. Outcome of marketable fruit varied from 56.9 to 99.0% under rain cover. Fruit under cover can be harvested in optimal ripening period also in rainy season.