Chronica Horticulturae volume 49 number 2 ... - Acta Horticulturae

Section Vine and Berry Fruits
Workshop on Berry Production in
Changing Climate Conditions and
Cultivation Systems
Participants of the Workshop.
The Workshop was held in the frame of the
EU-COST Action 863 “Euroberry Research:
from Genomics to Sustainable Production,
Quality and Health”. More than 70 researchers,
consultants and representatives of the berry
industry from 23 countries attended the meeting,
which was organised by Dr. Erika Krüger
and her team at the Geisenheim Research
Center, Section of Pomology, Germany, from
29-31 October 2008.
The objective of the workshop was to discuss
the future production of Fragaria, Rubus, Ribes
and Vaccinium in Europe under the impact of
climate change and modern cultivation systems.
The scientific program was designed to
provide participants with oral and poster lectures
in various fields of expertise. In four sessions
the impact of climate changes and cultivation
systems were discussed with regard to
berry physiology and cultural management,
dynamics of diseases, pests and beneficials,
breeding strategies and fruit quality and the
nutritional value of berry fruits, respectively.
The climate change was defined in most presentations
as an increase in temperatures over
the next decades of 1-4°C, higher variations in
rainfall with higher frequency of drought periods,
a higher frequency of extreme events and
less frost and snow during winter. However, the
frost risk in spring may not be reduced because
higher temperatures may lead to earlier flowering
and the exposure to frost risk will probably
be longer.
Several presentations focused on the consequences
of the changes on growth, crop physiology,
flower induction, chilling completion and
over-chilling problems. The flowering period will
be earlier in colder regions in the future compared
to now and later in warmer regions due
to the longer duration for chilling completion.
Another problem that was observed in warmer
regions is the flower abortion, especially after
warm winters. The production peaks can be
modified with climate changes as predicted for
the strawberry production in Spain with consequences
for market aspects. The fruit quality
could be influenced by higher levels of sunburn
due to higher temperature and high radiation.
For the northern regions of Europe and regions
of higher altitudes, climate change can stimulate
berry production.
As for changes in production systems, the berry
production under plastic tunnels and in greenhouses
will continue to increase in the future. In
addition, out of season production will also
become more important due to better market
opportunities. These expensive production systems
have to be optimised for each species and
cultivar in order to guarantee the best growing
conditions and crop management. The double
cropping with ever-bearing cultivars and/or with
CHRONICA HORTICULTURAE •VOL 49 • NUMBER 2 • 2009 • 41