Raspberry lodging

To assess the lodging resistance of raspberries, a visual expert method is used, as there is no uniform quantitative scale. Varieties are classified by their degree of susceptibility to cane leaning, determining the necessity of using trellises to support upright forms, whereas standard (tree-type) forms are characterized by high natural wood strength.

Lodging of the canes leads to contact between berries and the soil, which triggers the development of fungal diseases and the loss of a significant portion of the yield. Furthermore, leaning stems significantly complicate agronomic practices and harvesting, and during the winter period, increase the risk of cane breakage under the weight of snow and subsequent winterkill.