Innovation in New Varieties, New Rootstocks and Training Systems: Towards Higher Efficiency and Sustainability

Dear colleagues,

The cultivation of fruit tree accounts for about 8% of the total agricultural surface, and it is the highest valued agricultural activity. Making fruit tree production economically and ecologically sustainable is the main challenge for future orchards. With new varieties and new rootstocks now available, improving our knowledge regarding accurate orchard design, implementing innovative training systems and cultural practices are currently real orchard needs. Economically and ecologically sustainable production requires efficient orchards. In a first step, new cultivars and rootstocks adapted to edafo-climatic conditions and resistant, tolerant or not sensitive to the main pests and diseases. In a second step, the efficient use of inputs is required, in particular labour, water, fertilizers, herbicides and pest and disease control to optimize and/or reduce the cost of production. In a third step to get early yields, reducing the unproductive period and high quality is required in order to recover the initial investment and get an optimum price as soon as possible. Efficient use of pesticides requires inovative training system design and small trees to improve the penetration of the products in the canopy. Further, planar canopies result in a better sunlight distribution into the canopy improving fruit quality, providing better accessibility to labour, allowing partial or total mechanization, and resulting in an overall better efficiency of inputs and, consequently, in a more sustainable production through intensification.

Prof. José Casanova Gascón
Dr. Ignasi Iglesias
Prof. Dr. Stefano Musacchi
Prof. Salvatore Camposeo
Guest Editors

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