The evaporative cooling effects of overtree microsprinkler irrigation on 'Mondial Gala' apples

Fruit firmness, fruit size, and soluble solid concentration (SSC) were all increased by cooling irrigation, though the extent to which this occurred varied from season to season. Significantly greater values were observed for cooled fruits than the control in 1998 and 1999 but not in 1997. On the other hand, titratable acidity (TA) did not appear to be consistently affected by evaporative cooling. The economical analysis evidences the interest of cooling, due mainly to increase of fruit colour, especially when the same system is used for both purposes, frost protection and cooling.