Delaying cherry blossom to reduce frost damage
Climate change is causing many fruit trees to flower earlier, increasing their exposure to damaging late spring frosts.
Climate change is causing many fruit trees to flower earlier, increasing their exposure to damaging late spring frosts.
The short version
- A study led by the University of Göttingen shows that the plant growth regulator ethephon can delay flowering in Kordia, a sweet cherry variety, potentially protecting blossoms and developing fruitlets from frost.
- The treatment did not significantly delay flowering in a second sweet cherry variety or two apple varieties, highlighting the importance of crop and cultivar selection.
- The results are published in BMC Plant Biology.
What happened
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Anna Maria Geisthoff et al, Ethephon as a bloom-delaying agent for frost-sensitive tree crop flowers at risk from a changing climate, BMC Plant Biology (2026).
Why it matters
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-026-09346-4 Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing.
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