By Blake Jackson
As unpredictable weather increasingly disrupts growing seasons, associate professor School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Cornell AgriTech Jason Londo is studying its growing effects on apple orchards across New York, from long-term tree health to subtle changes in fruit quality that affect appearance, taste, and market value.
Londo research highlights how shifting climate patterns are reshaping orchard management and fruit production.
Londo’s work focuses on how extreme weather accelerates apple tree decline. Londo examines the physiological stress caused by erratic winter conditions in orchards growing popular varieties such as Gala and Fuji.
Apple trees, which are long-lived and clonal, are particularly vulnerable to sudden temperature swings. These fluctuations can prematurely wake trees from dormancy, exposing them to freeze damage. While the initial injuries may be minor, they accumulate over time, contributing to long-term decline.
Londo studies how winter stress impacts summer growth and fruit development to identify strategies that enhance tree resilience under changing climatic conditions.
In addition, Londo investigates how climate change affects fruit finish, the external quality that influences consumer preference and marketability.
Extreme rainfall, drought, and temperature imbalances disrupt the water and heat dynamics apples need during the growing season, leading to physiological issues like cracking, russeting, bitter pit, and scarf skin.
These blemishes reduce visual appeal and economic value, creating new challenges for growers striving to produce high-quality, market-ready fruit.
Londo’s research provides critical insights into sustaining orchard health and maintaining apple quality amid increasingly unpredictable weather.
Photo Credit: istock-rixipix
Categories: New York, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Education