UdeC researchers carry out a diagnosis of ‘Corazón de Paloma’ cherry trees to identify the impact of forest fires

Communications University of Concepción.-After the forest fires that affected the area last February, the UdeC team made a visit to diagnose the situation on the ground and technically resolve doubts raised by farmers, even though some of their orchards have not been burned.

“We have visited five of the eight producers with whom we work in the Queime sector in Quillón, and the truth is that there are some effects in the cherry orchards that are evident,” the academic and director of the Plant Production Department began, explaining. Dr. Richard Bastías, who is working together with the team made up of agronomists and researchers Ignacio Urra and Constanza Meza from the Fruit Growing laboratory, and who on the occasion were accompanied by the PRODESAL professional from Quillón, Sandra Sáez.

“The first thing we saw, and according to what we also talked to the producers, is that they managed to contain the fires through firebreaks, and support work among the residents of very small towns that are inserted in the middle of the forests, then they were surrounded by fire that approached a few meters from the cherry orchards. One of the first effects we see is that trees in ‘Corazón de Paloma’ cherry orchards have very small buds. In a normal season, the shoots of species such as the cherry tree should grow at least 15 or 20 cm, from there upwards. This growth occurs in spring, but continues, albeit at a slower rate, in summer. In this case, we observed many trees with minor growth, even no growth, which is largely due to the drought and low water availability that these producers have been suffering for years, but which was also exacerbated by the thermal stress of the fires. ”.

The little growth is only one of the registered problems, according to the expert, since they also observed that the shoots have a very yellow fruity wood color, especially in one of the orchards where the fire was closest to the trees, which showing significant dehydration. “Fortunately, the fruit wood that is over two years old, where the fruit is produced, is healthy, as are the roots of the fruit trees that did not burn. In fact, there was growth of children or serpents; a type of shoots, which is indicative that the roots are alive”.

thermal register

The use of sensors arranged at strategic points in the orchards made it possible to determine possible effects on the crops due to the excessive heat generated during the period of the fires. ”By reviewing the data in situ, we were able to determine that all the orchards visited reached temperatures above 40° during the period of the fires and where the fire was closest to the trees, temperatures exceeded 46°, which added to the dense layer of smoke that lasted more than two weeks in the place, generated conditions that clearly affected the trees with symptoms of premature leaf drop.”

This situation will also cause little accumulation of carbon and nutrient reserves in general for next year. “That will be safe, because these orchards are also in a condition of constant water scarcity. So our recommendation is to ensure that an adequate program of nutritional fertilization for the soil and roots is complied with for the coming spring”, indicated Dr. Bastías.

possible repercussions

Considering the experience of the agricultural damage caused by the fires of 2012 and 2017, the expert stated that these cherry trees could present a higher incidence of “twin fruits” in their next season, deformed flowers and fruits, or alterations in phenology ( flowering date). “This disorder is generated by high temperatures precisely in February, which is when the floral differentiation of the tree’s flowers that are going to bloom the following year is taking place, and given the records of extreme temperatures caused by the fires, it is very likely that this happen”, explained the researcher, which could mean significant yield losses in these cherries.

Finally, Dr. Richard Bastías argued that it is important to draw a lesson from this situation. “It is definitely urgent that state policies be established in the field of territorial planning that allow these rural agroecosystems to be safeguarded in some way, such as that of ‘Corazón de Paloma’ cherry producers, in the face of emergencies such as forest fires. As a university, we are very motivated to work long-term to rescue this variety, not only to preserve its genetics, but also to develop a more sustainable business alternative with an identity of origin for small producers in Quillón, but when there are In these catastrophes such as fires, there is a high probability of losing unique and relevant genetic material”, he pointed out.