Researchers at the University of Bologna in Italy have discovered that nectarines grown using mulches – protective covers placed on the ground to reflect sunlight back at trees – contain a higher volume of sugar as well as healthy nutrients.
In a report published in the Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology, the research team revealed that experiments carried out as part of the ongoing Isafruit project had seen mulches placed for three to four months prior to harvesting on the ground between rows of trees producing the Stark Red Gold nectarine variety.
Compared with the light levels around Stark Red Gold trees without mulches, the intensity of the light around those with covers reportedly increased seven-fold, with the extra light making a 'considerable difference' to the fruit itself.
'The content of phenolic compounds, which are thought to be beneficial for health, increased by 60 per cent and, furthermore, higher fruit yields were obtained both in terms of number and size of the fruits,' a spokesperson for the project explained.
Light increases the speed of ripening, so fruits exposed to a greater amount of light produced a higher sugar content.
In addition, the nectarines grown using mulches were softer in terms of their texture. 'This might not be desirable among consumers,' the spokesperson said. 'However, the experiment has demonstrated that increasing light exposure in the right way may be a way to produce even healthier fruits in the future.'
Download the nectarine mulches report (Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology)
