Ποια ήταν η πρόκληση/ πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίστηκε?

Inking is the internationally used name for a physiological disorder that is common in stone fruit, and in particular peaches. It consists of the appearance of dark spots on the surface of the fruit, affecting only the epidermis, due to bumps and friction during the harvesting and transportation process. It is an aesthetic defect, which reduces the fruit’s sale value in the fresh market. Its prevalence varies depending on the year, variety, plot and producer, but in some cases, it can be very high (80%), which can entail a very important financial loss for the producer, and significantly reduce the profitability of their operation as a result. Ως εκ τούτου, producers were interested in a more in-depth knowledge of this physiological disorder, in order to avoid it.

Πώς λύσατε το πρόβλημα?

More information was needed to propose solutions to the problem.

Ποιοι είναι οι παράγοντες επιτυχίας στην επίλυση του προβλήματος?

Although none of the strategies studied provided satisfactory and/or conclusive results for understanding why it happens and therefore being able to eliminate it, it has been confirmed that some varieties of peach are more sensitive to this physiological disorder than others. This is an important information for producers. Επιπλέον, practical recommendations were proposed to producers:

  1. Be aware of the variety’s susceptibility to this physiological disorder before planting.
  1. Minimize the number of intermediaries used to pour the fruit into the box.
  1. Harvest and pour the fruit into the crate as carefully as possible.
  1. Harvest the fruit at an appropriate and uniform level of ripeness.
  1. Control and monitoring of watering throughout the fruit’s ripening process.
  1. Avoid high doses of watering in the last month before harvest.

Απροσδόκητες αποτυχίες αν υπάρχουν

None of the strategies applied provided satisfactory and/or conclusive results for understanding why it happens and therefore being able to eliminate it.

Διδάγματα.

During the project we learned that the incidence of inking is the result of a combination of factors: climate, fruit physiology and soil composition, which together with the management of the plot can accentuate or mitigate this physiological disorder.

Τι ρόλο παίζει ο σύμβουλος ή η συμβουλευτική υπηρεσία στην πρακτική περίπτωση?

The leader of the group is a cooperative that provides advice to peach producers. They were the promotors of the group. They took contact with the research institute (IRTA) that could facilitate the study they were interested in and design the project in cooperation with them. The cooperative provided the fields in which the tests were carried out.

Μπορεί η προσέγγισή σας να μεταφερθεί ή/και να προσαρμοστεί για άλλες προκλήσεις και περιοχές καινοτομίας?

Ναί.

Εκτιμώμενη δυνατότητα μεταφοράς σε κλίμακα από 1 ΜΕΤΑ ΜΕΣΗΜΒΡΙΑΣ 5

(όπου 1 είναι εύκολο και 5 πολύ δύσκολο)

4

Για την ανταλλαγή εμπειριών σχετικά με την καλή πρακτική, please contact Gemma Reig (gemma.reig@irta.cat)