What comes in spring
Another negative effect for the sector could be the frosts in September, although it is likely that these will not occur: just as the El Niño Current caused an increase in average temperatures during winter, it will also do so in spring.
Rather, rains are expected in September and an unwanted effect, which cannot be ruled out, would be an excess of heat that dehydrates the pollen tubes of the flower, preventing the fruit from appearing.
As for the rains in September and October, which could cause phytosanitary problems, with pathogenic fungi on the stone, such as Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia, it is important to move ahead and use fungicides to stop them.
Chile is ahead of this type of adverse conditions, counting on the technology, experience and sustainable tools to combat possible stress due to temperatures, and it does so in fruit development, as well as products based on algae and amino acids that are increasingly validated.
In the case of fungal and/or wood diseases, there are good experiences with biological products that allow taking care of the phytosanity of the fruit, ensuring plums free of residues. This allows us to meet the quality standards of our increasingly demanding customers.
“Without a doubt, this will be a season of much learning and without many precedents, which will tell us how to act in the future in the face of the increase in global temperatures,” he says.
The important thing, he adds, is to do the job well, which implies complying with a program, keeping the orchard well watered and protected from fluctuations in temperature, especially high ones, with good soil and fertilization management, as well as the use of vegetable covers.
Source: Chilean prunes industry prepares for what was not a cold winter – Chile Prunes Association