Effects of Cluster Thinning and Pre-Flowering Leaf Removal on Growth and Grape composition in cv. Sangiovese

Matteo Gatti, Fabio Bernizzoni, Silvia Civardi, Stefano Poni

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in rivistaArticolo in rivista

60 Citazioni (Scopus)

Abstract

Crop regulation techniques applied as pre-flowering defoliation (D) and early cluster thinning performed at the same time (ECT) or at lag-phase of berry growth (LCT) were tested over three seasons on high-yielding cv. Sangiovese (Vitis vinifera L.) and compared to non-defoliated, un-thinned control (C) vines of the same cultivar. Treatment severity consisted of removing primary leaves and any laterals developed from nodes 1 to 6 in D and by thinning 50% of clusters chosen among distal ones or those inserted on weak shoots, in the CT plots. Despite the fact that yield per vine was not as reduced in D (-32%) as in CT treatment (-45%) in comparison to C, early defoliated vines also had largely improved sugar and total anthocyanin concentrations and highest total phenolics. Yield components were also markedly affected by treatments: D vines showed smaller clusters and berries, leading in turn to improved cluster looseness, as well as higher relative skin and seed growth. While all crop-regulating treatments led to an increase in the final leaf-to-fruit ratio, parameters of technological maturity were essentially uncoupled as equally high Brix levels corresponded to the highest TA in D and, conversely, to lowest TA and highest pH in cluster thinning treatments. Overall results show that different final yield-grape composition patterns can be reached depending upon the principle used for crop regulation as a primary consequence of a diversified degree of compensation triggered on single yield components.
Lingua originaleEnglish
pagine (da-a)N/A-N/A
RivistaAmerican Journal of Enology and Viticulture
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2012

Keywords

  • cluster weight
  • fruit-set
  • leaf area
  • leaf-to-fruit ratio
  • skin growth

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