{rfName}

Indexed in

License and Use

Licencia

Altmetrics

Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Analysis of institutional authors

Santolaria, N.AuthorRodrigo, J.AuthorFadon, E.Author

Share

April 7, 2026
Publications
>
Article
No

Warming winters and cultivar resilience in sweet cherry: agroclimatic requirements and future suitability under Mediterranean-continental conditions

Publicated to: AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY. 383 111138- - 2026-03-24 383(), DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111138

Authors:

Santolaria, N., Castel, L., Rodrigo, J. & Fadón, E.
[+]

Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, España

Abstract

Warming winters are increasingly altering the dormancy and flowering dynamics of temperate fruit trees. In this study, we assess the adaptation potential of 22 North American sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars to future climate conditions in Zaragoza (Ebro Valley, Spain), a representative Mediterranean-continental site. Endodormancy release and flowering were characterized over two contrasting seasons (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) to determine cultivar-specific agroclimatic requirements. Chill and heat accumulation were quantified using the Dynamic, Chilling Hours, and Utah Models for chill, and the Growing Degree Hours Model for heat. Historical trends (1974–2024) and future projections from 18 Global Climate Models (GCMs) under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5) were analyzed to assess the probability of chilling fulfillment. Historical analysis revealed a 6–8 CP decline since 1980, confirming progressive warming. The exceptionally warm 2023–2024 winter recorded the lowest chill accumulation in 50 years and was associated with flowering delays across all cultivars. Cultivar-specific analyses indicated a broad range of chilling requirements (37.6–66.6 CP), with high-chill cultivars showing increased risk of incomplete endodormancy release under warmer winters. Projections suggest that while most cultivars may remain viable by mid-century (2050), adaptation challenges will intensify by 2085, particularly under SSP5, where all cultivars show a risk of insufficient chill for at least one GCM. These findings provide empirical evidence that warming winters are reshaping sweet cherry dormancy and offer a probabilistic framework to guide cultivar selection and adaptation strategies under ongoing climate change.
[+]

Keywords

Cambio climáticoClimate actionFenologíaFríoPrunus aviumSalida de la latencia

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2026, it was in position 3/92, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Forestry. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

[+]

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-09:

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).
Continuing with the social impact of the work, it is important to emphasize that, due to its content, it can be assigned to the area of interest of ODS 13 - Climate Action, with a probability of 51% according to the mBERT algorithm developed by Aurora University.
[+]

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Santolaria Llacer, Nestor Ibon) and Last Author (Fadón Adrián, Erica).

[+]

Awards linked to the item

Este trabajo ha sido financiado por la subvención PRE2021-099164, financiada por el MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y el FSE «El FSE invierte en tu futuro», así como por el Gobierno de Aragón — Fondo Social Europeo, Unión Europea (Grupo Consolidado A12_17R).
[+]