Naturally infected sweet cherries utilized in the trials were
mainly attacked by Monilinia spp., B. cinerea, and R. stolonifer, and in
a minor extent by A. alternata, P. expansum, and Cladosporium spp.
Due to the different climatic conditions occurred in the two years,
different protocols of storage and shelf life duration were applied.
Actually, during the fruit ripening season (from April to June), a
greater amount of rain (about double) was recorded in the
production area in the
first year rather than in the second. The
higher disease pressure caused by the abundant rainfall in the
first
year can explain the shorter storage and shelf life time withstood
by fruit in trials of this year.