Effect of leaf removal on grape yield, berry composition, and stilbene concentration

Luigi Bavaresco*, Matteo Gatti, Silvia Pezzutto, Mario Fregoni, Fulvio Mattivi

*Corresponding author

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A four-year trial (1999-2002) was carried out in commercial vineyards in order to test the effect of manual leaf removal in the cluster zone at veraison on grape yield, berry composition, and stilbene concentration at harvest. Two Vitis vinifera L. red wine cultivars (Barbera and Croatina) and one white wine cultivar (Malvasia di Candia aromatica) were considered. The vines were Guyot trained, with 10 shoots per meter of row, and leaf removal accounted for approximately 22% of removed canopy surface. Meteorological data were recorded, as well as grape production, fruit composition, and stilbenes trans-resveratrol, trans-piceid, cis-piceid) at harvest. Grape yield was not affected by leaf removal in any of the tested cultivars. Grape sugars and acidity were affected by leaf removal differently depending on meteorological conditions and cultivar. Leaf removal increased trans-piceid grape concentration in Barbera and decreased trans-resveratrol and cis-piceid in Croatina and Malvasia di Candia aromatica under cool meteorological conditions. Leaf removal had no effect on stilbene grape concentrations under warmer and drier climatic conditions. Copyright © 2008 by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)292-298
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Enology and Viticulture
Volume59
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Keywords

  • Climate
  • Cultivar
  • Leaf removal
  • Piceid
  • Quality
  • Resveratrol
  • Yield

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