Netting reduces bird damage and spotted wing Drosophila Drosophila suzukii, in high-density sweet cherries with few effects on fruit quality

Abstract

A potential benefit of high-density plantings is that their more compact size means netting is a more feasible pest and disease management tactic than in conventional plantings. We compared bird damage, spotted wing drosophila (SWD) abundance, and canker in high-density sweet cherry rows that were netted or unnetted for 2–4 weeks pre-harvest. Nets had a fine mesh that was designed to exclude SWD. We also assessed net effects on fruit quality metrics and environmental conditions. Nets significantly reduced bird damage in two years and SWD in one year (in the other year SWD were too sparse to assess net effects). Canker prevalence and color were unaffected by nets. Cracked cherries were less abundant and fruit weights were higher in netted rows in one year while percent soluble solids were higher in control rows in one year. Average, minimum, and maximum temperatures and humidity were unaffected by nets. The results indicate that netting installed a few weeks before harvest reduces bird damage and SWD in high-density sweet cherries with few negative effects on fruit quality and environmental conditions. Netting may be a useful bird and SWD management strategy when labor and materials are sufficient to install and manage netting.