A technological innovation already in use in the US could help grape and stonefruit growers protect their crops from heat stress.

Grape growers in northern Victoria, Australia, have lost up to 50 per cent of their crops this year from sunburn, but particle film technology could soon act as a sunscreen for fruit, it was reported on ABC Rural.

Chuck Kuppat, from Crop Microclimate Management in the US, says that while there are disadvantages, the boost to yields is significant.

“The advantages in reducing the impact of heat stress or light stress are several,” he said. “It increases yield, you can get larger fruit, and in the case of certain fruit you can increase the brix, and then in addition you can reduce net water use by up to 40 per cent.”

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