Forever Young? Late Shoot Pruning Affects Phenological Development, Physiology, Yield and Wine Quality of Vitis vinifera cv. Malbec

Yishai Netzer, Yedidya Suued, Matanya Harel, Danielle Ferman-Mintz, Elyashiv Drori, Sarel Munitz, Maria Stanevsky, José M. Grünzweig, Aaron Fait, Noa Ohana-Levi, Gil Nir and Gil Harari
Additional contact information
Yishai Netzer: Chemical Engineering Department, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
Yedidya Suued: Eastern Regional R&D Center, Ariel 40700, Israel
Matanya Harel: Eastern Regional R&D Center, Ariel 40700, Israel
Danielle Ferman-Mintz: Eastern Regional R&D Center, Ariel 40700, Israel
Elyashiv Drori: Chemical Engineering Department, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
Sarel Munitz: Eastern Regional R&D Center, Ariel 40700, Israel
Maria Stanevsky: Eastern Regional R&D Center, Ariel 40700, Israel
José M. Grünzweig: The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Aaron Fait: Jacob Blaustein Insts. for Desert Research, French Associates Institute for Agriculture & Biotechnology of Drylands, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 84990, Israel
Noa Ohana-Levi: Independent Researcher, Variability, Ashalim 85512, Israel
Gil Nir: Carmel Winery, Soham 608500, Israel
Gil Harari: Carmel Winery, Soham 608500, Israel

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: ‘Malbec’ grapevines commonly have high yield, thus intermittently negatively affecting wine quality parameters. Here, we describe the use of late shoot pruning (LSP) practice applied for wine quality improvement. We examined the effect of timing of LSP on ‘Malbec’ vines grown in Mediterranean conditions during three consecutive seasons (2016–2018) in Israel. The timing of LSP treatment applications (applied one, two and three weeks after bud break) were compared with cluster-thinned, winter-pruned vines (WP + T) and standard winter pruning (WP). The LSP practice postponed bud break of target buds but did not have a temporal effect on the onset of veraison. Midday stem water potential was less negative and stomatal conductance and net CO 2 assimilation rate were higher in the LSP vines. This practice led to a substantial reduction in the number of clusters and crop yield. Finally, wine quality was positively affected by applying LSP treatment. Performing the inexpensive LSP treatment at the precise timing after bud burst was found to save labor, decrease crop yield and improve grape and wine parameters. LSP application should be considered in adequate varieties as a significant tool for the enhanced effectiveness of vine growing in warm regions.

Keywords: Vitis vinifera; late shoot pruning; cluster thinning; phenology; photosynthesis; yield; red wine quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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