The Effect of Photoselective Nets on Fruit Quality of Apple cv. ‘Cripps Pink’

The use of anti-hail photoselective nets is new approach in protecting the fruits against hail damage, sunburn and against pests in combination with activating desired physiological responses in fruit trees. The trial was established on the apple Malus domestica Borkh. cv. ‘Cripps Pink’ grafted on M9 rootstock in Mediterranean climate of Croatia. Four nets were used: white (W), yellow (Y) and red (R) net from Tenax Company (Italy) and Stop Drosophila Normal (D) from Artes Politechnica Company (Italy). Only white net showed higher yield than control (C). The trees grown under the W and R nets had higher portion of fruits diameter 70-80 mm than C trees and trees grown under the Y net, while D net was similar to other treatments. Nets reduced fruit skin colour, especially Y net which had highest portion of less coloured fruit. Maturation of fruit grown on the trees under the W and R nets, was 9 days earlier than fruit grown on the trees under the D and Y nets. The study showed that net colour has variable influence on physiological response of the tree and it is necessary to test the nets type in specific geographical location