Many of the country's largest apple producing regions are facing challenges in crop growth and development due to the effects of climate change, a new study has found.
As apple orchards across the country become increasingly vulnerable to warming trends, the three highest-producing U.S. counties are the most affected, according to a study released Monday.environmental research letters.
At the top of that list was Yakima County, Washington, which has more than 48,800 acres of orchards, but showed alarming signs in five of six indicators analyzed by Washington State University scientists. Next in line were Kent County, Michigan, and Wayne County, New York.
“We should never take for granted the delicious apples we love to consume,” said corresponding Washington state climate scientist Deepti Singh. .statement. “Changes in climate conditions across multiple parts of the growth cycle can pose multiple threats to apple production and quality.”
Globally, the United States is currently Ranked 3rd place According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, its share among apple exporting countries will lag behind the European Union (EU) and China in 2022-2023.
At the state level, Washington state is the largest annual producer, followed by Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. The top markets for U.S. apples are Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Using both historical trends and climate indicators, Washington state scientists evaluated six indicators that could potentially impact apples over a 40-year period from 1979 to 2022.
Metrics include the number of extremely hot days, warm nights, and cold days, the amount of cold time the tree needs to go dormant, the last day of spring frost, and the number of “growing degree days” or amounts listed above. It was included. A constant temperature suitable for apple growth.
The authors explained that changes in these indicators could change the timing of apple blossom blooms, while also increasing the risk of apple sunburn, which could affect appearance and quality.
According to the study, the western United States is experiencing the strongest of these adverse changes across multiple indicators.
Further complicating these developments is the fact that apple trees are perennials, meaning they bear fruit for many years.
“What happens seasonally affects not only the performance and productivity of apple trees in that particular season, but also their long-term health,” said co-author Lee Karsitz, a tree physiologist in Washington state. may be granted,” the statement said. “It just keeps repeating the cycle.”
With these cyclical knock-on effects in mind, Washington growers are now using netting and evaporative cooling to prevent sunburn, Calsitz said.
The researchers also emphasized that not all of the observed climate change is having a negative impact on apple cultivation, and that some regions are actually benefiting from the changes.
“Fewer cold days and an earlier date of last frost could be beneficial by reducing exposure of apples to sub-zero temperatures, allowing the use of less cold-hardy crop varieties,” the science says. said the people.
“However, it may also reduce the plant's cold tolerance and increase its vulnerability to extreme cold,” the researchers added.
Co-author Kirti Rajagopalan, a biological systems engineer from Washington state, said Washington state is an ideal case study, especially because parts of the state can tolerate hot summers.
“If we can do it here, we can probably do it elsewhere,” Rajagopalan continued.
Going forward, the authors emphasize the importance of adjusting adaptation measures to different stages of apple growth, which they say can “minimize overall deleterious effects.” Mr. Shin said.
