Flowers to fruit; early fruit formation and late fruit quality in cherry

Early fruit development (from bloom to stage II) was followed in the current season on variety 'Lapins'; this variety has previously been exposed as susceptible to apical-end skin blemishes such as cracking and woody scar tissue. It has been shown that skin cracking at the apical-end of the fruit in response to late season rainfall is increased by water uptake across the fruit skin, which in turn is encouraged by water droplets forming in the apical-end depression in some varieties. This condition could be further exacerbated by the presence of growth scars. Anecdotal information and industry reports support the development of apical-end skin blemishes in regions which experience a long cool spring and a protracted period of development. To explore this problem, regular flower and fruit monitoring early in the season was undertaken at two sites. The relationship between floral part retention, scarring and the development of larger cracks following late season rainfall was investigated. Style retention was found to increase both scarring and apical-end cracking. Furthermore, to determine if timely progression (rate of development) from floral through to fruit formation affected the formation of apical-end scarring, floral closure was promoted using a growth promoting spray applied at 50, 100% and 2 weeks after full bloom. Preliminary results showed that style retention is increased under a slower progression of flower to fruit.