Abstract
In this experiment, the ‘Green Crisp’ plum (Prunus salicina) was used as a test material to investi-gate the mechanisms of water penetration and develop necessary measures to prevent fruit cracking due to overwatering. The results suggest that both root rain cover and fruit surface cover can reduce the occurrence of fruit cracking. However, the fruit surface is the main source of water entering the fruit, with the carpopodium being a secondary source. Water uptake from the fruit surface is more likely to cause fruit cracking than from the roots. Therefore, blocking excessive water uptake from the fruit surface is more important than from the roots. The complete cover provided by the canopy significantly reduces excessive water uptake by the roots and fruit surface, leading to a reduced incidence of fruit cracking. However, a small portion of fruits may still experience transverse cracking at the top, possibly due to nutrient imbalances. The method of preventing cracking by full canopy cover is worth popularizing, but further research into the causes and control measures under sheltered conditions is also necessary.